Home is where the heart ACHES

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and as suddenly as it began...it ends

<< The Six were holding their ground and actually forcing the horde of drones back! Haleigh had closed off one entrance of the hall and Guardian laid a temporal trap down another...slowing the advance of those "men" down to a snail's crawl, making it SO EASY for her to pick them off any number of ways.>>

<< Spellbinder and Persephone kept Karen's immediate front and back covered while Black Widow, Rampage, Maverick and MorningStar surrounded them and laid waste in their own unique ways. MorningStar's own agitation and frustration with the implications of HER in this situation made her attacks seem amplified and for more violent than usual...another view of just how powerfull she could be.>>

<< even as Karen began to regain herself and knew all too well where she was. The moment that Karen began to scream out that Delilah had to be WARNED..that she had to "KNOW". the drones that the six were fighting began to fall back and discorporate into sparkling dust....sweeping and blowing away. the sirens stopped...and the Six were now alone again...at least for the MOMENT.>>

<< while there was still time, they had somethings that needed to be discussed. for as many answers as Guardian had found...more information was still needed. >>

<< who were these demonic drones? why were they dressed alike and why was this area so bloody and damaged? were they in fact connected to delilah and her father? and WHAT was the backstory between Delilah, Karen and this hospital?>>

<<all questions that needed answers and Black Widow would know that the files and info they needed where in in the LL floor, below ground in the medical records section.>>
 
Westin Hills- West Wing

<< fighting off these "men" with their unusual weapons, Spellbinder opted to use her eldritch bolts and other "long range" mystical attacks. something told her not to let them touch her in anyway. as the group drew their lines and kept the "men" away from Karen, Black Widow, Persephone , Guardian and Maverick began to help gain ground and force the seemingly ON GOING drones back and clear space!>>

<< Persephone checked on Karen, who seemed to be getting better, and as Karen warned that DELILAH "needed to know"...it was all but confirmed that there was a backstory here that Delilah was probably not aware of. Up to this point she had refused to acknowledge any possiblity, DESPITE Guardian's visions and what she had just seen in the West Wing moments before the attack.>>

<< whether it was denail, suprresion, a spell or anything else...there was no longer any doubt that SOMETHING had happened with Delilah here and her mother knew about it. >>

<< the battle raged on..>>

what mother?? what is it?

<< before Karen could answer, the drones all began to stop their never ending advance...and discorporated into sparkling dust that blew away...THROUGH the walls, the ceiling and where ever else they could go.>>

they...they're retreating??

<< Spellbinder looked around quickly..>>

we held them off and as soon as my mother spoke out about Delilah, they VANISHED!

<< looking to her mom, Morgan knelt down.>>

Are you sure you're allright mom? I don't want to rush you....but....

Guardian's had visions...she's seen somethings. We discovered some clues back at your office in Soho, but Mom, for Delilah's sake...and to ensure that we can actually get out of here together and ALIVE...please tell us what this is all about. We can't protect you ...or HER any more effectively unless we know exactly what we're dealing with.

<< Morgan spoke calmly with a bit of a lilt in her voice.>>
 
With a loud explosion four remaining guards in the hallway were incinerated in the air with Delilah and Ethan's deadly combination of powers as Delilah sent out the light waves as Ethan contained the energy and expanded it rapidly causing a powerful "feedback" detonation incinerating the guards where they stood. Ethan watched the strange men start to retreat. He went to Delilah alone and somewhat whispered in a tone so that only she could hear him.

"Everybody has a past Delilah, even if you don't know what's going on.. if things go down, i'll be on your side..."

He turned back to the rest of the group as Morgan asessed what was happening at the moment and Ethan took a moment to think himself. Who WERE these men and what did they have to do with Delilah. None of this was a hoax. These things were happening for a reason and they were connected to Delilah. He sent a message to Nicholas, hoping he would hear it.

"King, I don't know, isn't there something you can do? Can't you scan her memory or something? When I was in the world of intelligence we learned to compartmentalize things we couldn't deal with, traumatic events. They get stored away, sometimes forgotten. Her memories have to be somewhere, is there something we can do to make her remember? If this is true, we need Delilah to remember more than Karen. Maybe we can convince her to let you bring out those memories?"

Ethan was looking for anything because none of this information would help the Six if Delilah couldn't remember. She was the one who had lived with her father, she knew him and she would be the one who would have to defeat him or at least face him. The Six needed Deilah. Ethan needed Delilah because he wanted to get out of this place alive.

"This place is awful. Blood on the walls, it looks like something out of a horror movie. Dr. Victoria what kind of patients were held here?"
 
Westin Hills

:: Seeing Karen become more agitated, Persephone shook her head and kept her hand on her shoulder. ::

"Karen, I know you want to help, but please, you are still weak. Just take it easy for a moment longer."

:: As the battle came to a close, the 'creatures' seemed to disappear. Or retreat...regardless, there was a calm in the storm. Up until Karen mentioned Delilah's definate tie to this all. This would definitely be an emotional time for Delilah, but hopefully it will explain why this things captured Karen. ::

:: The raging winds that whipped through the hallway slowed to a soft breeze allowing everyone to speak in a softer tone. ::
 
Westin Hills--West Wing

The monsters finally began to recede, then they disappeared altogether, giving them some moments at least to regroup. Nicolas "heard" Ethan call to him and he responded in kind.

Ethan, it's not that simple. I and others are trying to get her to let us get those memories out. Without consent, I risk harming her if she rebels or triggering her powers to flare out of control, not to mention the violation of that type of mind probe. I know you want to help, and I am working on it. Just relax.

Meanwhile, Karen was quite agitated, and seemed ready to explain what was going on. He waited to hear her out and prepared for the shock to Delilah that this news might bring.
 
Westin Hills- west wing

:: blowing one last "man" up, Guardian looked around, preparing to lash out against her next target when they began to retreat. Karen was about to attempt to reveal something and they must have FAILED in their attempts to silence her now that she was protected by her daughter and the six.::

at last...

::she said softly::

now maybe Delilah will stop reacting to me as though i'm just making up malicious lies about her past. it gives me NO PLEASURE to be the bringer of bad news...and its one of the curses of being a Seer. I remember the pain the night Sharon died...and how Morgan asked me why i couldnt CHANGE the outcome....surprisingly it was HALEIGH who spoke up with the most insightfull remark.... "she's a precog..not a god."

:: squatting down, Guardian picked up some remaining "dust" in her gloved hand...as well as an athame that was left behind.....noticing the carving on the blade that matched several of the pendants that some of the humanoid creatures were wearing.::

something i might be able to use for scrying...or a possible vision.

:: her back was to the rest of the group. she was tired of being made to feel like she wasnt telling the truth and the implication that someone could so easily PLANT a "vision" or an elaborate temporal "replay" all in her mind...it just further exacerbated the insecurity she began to feel when she realized her powers as a SEER were being hampered. Delilah's comments...and the LACK of feedback from the others actually HURT her. but she wouldnt show it. she wouldnt allow this to deter her.::
 
Westin Hills

<< Karen rubbed her head as the monster men fell back and retreated into the shadows through the walls and the ceiling. it was confirmation that they were only "humanoid" in appearence. she breathed in more of the fresh air provided by persephone which allowed her to clear her head more quickly.>>

<< remaining seated in the wheel chair, Morgan knelt down beside her and asked her if she could tell her what was happening..or why and Karen nodded solemnly.>>

we need to get down to medical records. its on the lower level floor. my files on the....patients << looking at Delilah>> that i've seen are still here and Haleigh can bypass whatever encryptions they may have in place.

<< it was time for them all...especially Delilah to learn some things.>>
 
down to the lower level

<< after they gathered themselves, the team , along with Ethan walked together down the T intersection toward a set of Elevators. it was no problem for Haleigh to take control of any system in the seemingly vacant hospital and get an elevator to bring them down to the lower level basement floor.>>

<< to their surprise, once they arrived, the lower level looked like some technological nightmare...almost like NERVOUS [something only Morgan, Alison, Delilah and Haleigh would notice]. the technology here could very well be supplied by MYSTECH..it was in such sharp contrast to the rather stagnent and DATED look of the hospital's above ground floors.>>

<< the hum of power was in the air...machines seemed to be functioning even without the presence of anyone to watch them. there were many halls with offshoots and small rooms. Medical Records was down the main hall that curved to the right and through several sets of sliding doors.>>

<< there was something else down here as well...a lab of sorts...similar to the "bio systems lab" inside of the citadle.>>

<< they arrived in the LARGE and spacious "medical records" office. it was filled with small terminals and a large master computer along the fall wall with a wrap around console. this place looked more like a war room than a medical records office.>>
 
Haleigh continued to fight until there was nothing left of the opposition. She swung the machete with easily enough force to lop not only heads, but SHOULDERS off, and the gore didnt bother her. She laid waste of anything in her path, and didnt stop until the 'men' retreated into nothingness. Even the bodies of the dead turned to dust... and Haleigh seemed irritated. She kicked a pile of dust, scattering it across the hall.

"DAMN it.... when I get a hold of the son of a bitch that sent them to slaughter."

She grumbled quietly, as Alison bent down to pick up some abandonned paraphenelia. Haleigh laid her hand on Guardian's shoulder from behind.... she knew what it was like to try to use your powers and not be able to, and she figured Alison was trying to get something, ANYTHING, from the athame in her hands. What was more... she tried to get Delilah to listen to the little bit of light she COULD see... and was shut down. In all the commotion, Haleigh hadn't had time to comment.... but isolated from the group a little now, she offered the Seer encouragement to stick with it.

"I've learned to trust your visions, Alison... Delilah's in denial... we both know that... don't give up trying... I'd really like to know who has the power to do this... so I can put a boot in his ass and send him straight to hell. Now Come on... we need to go downstairs... Delilah's gonna have to square with her past in a few minutes... when I find the proof that you aren't imagining things."


They went down the hall, where Haleigh commandeered an elevator and lowered them to the 'basement' floor below ground. The elevator doors opened and Haleigh paused.... her gaze traveling to take in the surroundings.

"Looks like they've done some renovation down here.... and its... suspiciously familiar, wouldn't y'all say?"

She said, as she stepped out of the elevator and made her way down the hall. She knew where she was going and didnt waste time, walking down the hall through electric doors that slid aside for them, leading the group to their destination as if she'd been there before. When they got there, Haleigh made a beeline for the center console, which was where she sat down and began to access the databank... she disabled a few security measures within the network... and then opened a search prompt to look for Karen's files on Delilah.

"Well.... at least they aren't still in the stone age down here... it wouldve taken HOURS to find the hard copies."

She remarked with levity, seemingly nonchalant about the fact that the expensive electronic lab might imply Mystech's involvement.
 
[ She had to admit that she was impressed as she watched Ethan's feedback attack annihlate four guards. She spoke slowly, in a voice lower than normal. ]

"Kill them. Kill them all."

[ But then all the remaining creatures turned to ash. ]

"What the fu-?"

[ She started as Ethan whispered to her - it made her pause and she turned to look at him, really look at him. He had surprised her, and that didn't happen to her that often.

She snapped back to focus, and ran to Karen's side. She saw the look that Karen gave her, and tried to ignore it as she followed the others to the elevator and down. ]

"What is this place? Cause it sure doesn't look like the basement of a hospital..."
 
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Westin Hills- to the sub basement

:: Guardian slowly stood up as Black Widow touched her shoulder and reaffirmed HER trust of the seer's visions.::

:: speaking in a low tone::

It gives me no pleasure to present such things to Delilah, or anyone else for that matter. It is times like this that remind me of the DOWN SIDE of being a seer...a precog.

...thank you for being so thoughtfull.

:: Alison was surprised at Haleigh yet again. Perhaps the mutant hybrid was more attuned to Alison than the seer cared to realize. after all, they had more in common than they ever would have thought upon their first meeting AND they briefly shared leadership of the team during one of its darkest times.::

:: Walking with a confident stride in her high heeled boots, Guardian followed as the team gathered to the elevator and Haleigh seized control of its systems to bring one up to them.::

:: on the way down, some of the others had a few things to say, but Alison kept quiet, holding the athame in her hand. something about it was drawing the gaze of her cobalt blue eyes..but she couldnt figure out what it was just now.::
 
Westin Hills- the sub basement

<< Looking at Delilah, it was clear she was under great strain and pressure...whatever Alison had "saw", it obviously was not received well by Delilah and coupled with the fact that Karen had something to tell...this wouldnt get any easier. Morgan caught up with Delilah....the shadow of her cape casting a long effect down Delilah's path.>>

Delilah,
<< Morgan said in a soft, understanding tone.>>

you know Alison wouldn't tell you something that wasn't true. She doesnt want to hurt you...she wants to HELP you. we all do and we're not going to abandon you..no matter what you find out. We're going to do what we always do when one of our crazed, demented family members or someone else comes calling....send them SCREAMING IN FLAMES ALL THE WAY BACK TO HELL!

<< the defiance in Morgan's raised tone went down the various halls...and was soon swallowed by the silence again. the team.moved towards the elevators and waited as Haleigh seized control of their systems to bring one up. the costume she wore was both "eye popping" and provocative, and while Morgan never shivered from "cold" before...she found herself wrapping her arms around herself as they went down to the LL.>>

<< in an icy voice>>

something about those men...they creeped me out. not in a traditonal way...but what they might be ABOUT. I feel like we've only seen the beginning of something truly sick tonight.

<< as Haleigh brought them down to the LL, Morgan stepped out behind Haleigh, looking around as well before Persephone wheeled Karen out.>>

it seems quiet enough....

<< noticing the way the place was laid out..the extremely cutting edge technology...the "cold edge" the place had, Morgan nodded as Haleigh commented on the renovation and Delilah definately felt like this place didnt "match" the rest of the facility>>

the way it's set up...it's almost like...like NERVOUS!

<< she looked up and around.>>

Could Westin Hills be powered by MysTech?

<< they made their way to the center most point of this sub basement. as Haleigh seated herself at the main console, Persephone wheeled Karen right next to her and Morgan stood behind them.>>

Mom, Did you know about this?
 
Westin Hills

<< Karen continued to use this time to gather her strength, and center herself. it had been a long...LONG time since she'd been here and only SHE knew why she had left Westin Hills.>>

<< many things would be shared in the next few moments and she knew that Delilah may very well be unable to cope. they lived in a world where they knew painfully too well that anything was possible. none of their pasts were "smooth" and Karen had tried her best to shield Delilah from HER'S...>>

<< as Persephone wheeled Karen along in the while chair, Morgan walked alongside her..holding her hand.>>

Don't worry Morgan, I'm allright....well, I'm GETTING there at least.

<< Karen tried to reassure her daughter, but she was too busy fretting in her own heart of hearts...Delilah was already starting to unravel. it was evident by her behavior during the fight moments ago. she was a good woman...she didnt deserve to have to endure this but the only way she'd be able to DEAL...would be by KNOWING and UNDERSTANDING.>>

<< as they made their way down to the sub basement, memories came back to karen like a flood...she felt so much GUILT. haleigh and morgan commented on the way the place looked...>>

<< in a low tone...>>

they conducted the most "daring" and controversial experiments with psychotropic and other forms of drugs and treatments down here...during the beginning of the anti mutant hysteria in the 80's...many children who were brought here were mutants..but they were THOUGHT to be "sick" or mentally deranged in someway...they were...."Treated"....with varying degrees of "results"

<< as Persephone wheeled her over next to Haleigh at the console, Karen smiled a bit..>>

thank you, child.

<< interestingly enough, Persephone was actually older than EVERYONE on her newfound team...but she would understand Karen's tendency to "mother" her at times. in Darkchilde's timeline, THAT Karen did the same thing. >>

<< as Haleigh began to pull up the files, Karen began to type somethings in herself.>>

Haleigh, bring down all the files about "Pastor Trelevan" as well. there will be a collection of doctors and police reports as well as files from DCS. all of them can be accessed from here. there will also be some voice files and dictations as well as video and pictures.
 
Westin Hills- sub basement

::Guardian exited the elevator with the others, but toward the back. She felt the need for space. She walked along, looking around and taking in the setting. The others who commented were right, this place DID resemble NERVOUS.::

it's like a "HIVE" for their intelligence and information...its a miniature version of NERVOUS even down to the illumination!

:: as Haleigh and Karen sat at the main console in the central most area of the sub basement while Morgan watched behind them, Alison found herself once again looking around...but also attempting to "SEE" as well.::

:: there was an area nearby, off one of the circular walls...a large looking glass.::

::with the athame still in her gloved hand, she felt herself drawn to the large window. and as she came close, she looked through and saw what could only be described as a "bio systems lab"...with tanks lined up in a row up one way and down the other. the tanks appeared to be large enough to accomodate anywhere from a small child to an adult male.::

there was an enclosed observation area and each "tank" had monitoring equipment as well as other devices.::

:: speaking softly to herself::

what where they doing down here??

:: she stopped herself from going INTO the lab. but still, she looked intently...::

so what is it THIS time? what am i going to see that OTHER people will not believe?

:: she said, unaware of the sarcasm in her normally cool toned voice. the answer would come to her..sooner than she thought and THIS time, there'd be someone to validate her...::
 
knowledge is power

<< the sound of energy and technology may have been almost lulling for some in this sub basement, but for those with the right powers...there was something ELSE in the air.>>

<< Karen had mentioned there were many questionable and highly experiment forms of psychotropic drugs tested on patients in this basement..and the mental feedback was still in the air for NICOLAS to sense. there was disorientation, chaos, pain and BETRAYAL. He too was drawn to the window where Guardian stood. what she would "see", he would FEEL and sense...and together they would see that the walls in this place could INDEED talk.>>

<< meanwhile, Haleigh, Karen, Morgan, Ava, Delilah and Ethan were at the main console of this hive. Haleigh was pulling down files and using cross referencing cues from Karen to get ALL the information possible. she would then produce hard copies for them to take with. Morgan expressed a desire...a NEED for them all to get out of there as fast as possible..and at least get back to open ground. even in the eerie open space of the town, it seemed they were more safe than inside this place that looked more like a high tech vestibule to hell than anything else.>>

<< for Delilah, soon it wouldnt matter where she was. She would not be the same anymore.>>
 
Westin Hills--basement

As the group made their way downstairs, Nicolas noticed Morgan wrapping her arms around herself. He rubbed her shoulders warmly with his hands a bit , almost absentmindedly, as they traveled to the basement area. Once they got off the elevator, the team left the elevator, but Nicolas did not. He was transfixed, buffeted by dozens of psychic screams. He grabbed his head and staggered as he regained focus.

Where was that COMING from? So much pain, betrayal.It almost floored me, and its apparent that it was not a direct attack on me, just a scream for anyone to notice, to help. I have to find the source...

As Alison walked to the large window and peered inside, Nicolas staggered over beside her, resting his hand on her shoulder as he got himself together. As he began to lower the volume of the feedback din, he responded to her comments, his voice tinged with strain.

"Everyone believes you, save Delilah. That you are seeing what is there is without question. Please tell me, what do you see here? I am getting a chorus of psychic pain and disorientation, violation and betrayal. Tell me Alison, please...what in the HELL did they do here?"
 
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Ethan's eyes darted over the area where the files were stored as he began to reminisce about his time in MysTech. While working for what he thought was British Intelligence, alot of their file keeping system had looked like areas of this. He thought at the time that it was just a black ops division of British Intelligence when in reality it was the front for the growing european cell of MysTech.

"This place really does resemble the lower levels of "Sentinel", the MysTech cell I was employed in while I lived in London. I was told it was merely a storage base for old intel and important artifacts. This place DOES have that MysTech charm to it.. I wouldn't be surprised. Though those men, they seemed dark, and I don't use that word lightly. They seemed more evil than anything or anyone I assasinated while under the employ of MysTech..."

As he took a look he caught up with Alison for a moment as he decided to validate her thoughts as he saw what was happening when he had followed her earlier with the others behind. She WAS seeing something.. He talked softly to her.

"Alison.. it may not mean much to you, but I do believe you. I researched you more in particular than the others when I received my assignment to take out Alycia Barnett. Your powers are stronger than anything I encountered. I have seen Seers within MysTech and they don't touch you. I saw you walking around earlier when I went in after you. It seemed like you were in another world. I believed you.. just so you know..."

He looked at her fleetingly and then back to the others as he reaffirmed Morgan's thoughts.

"I'm with Morgan, I say we get these files and get out of this before Milla Jovavich comes busting through the door with a thrall of flesh eating zombies behind her..."
 
Haleigh brought up files on Delilah's father as requested.... including a video file of one of the Pastor's sermons... she watched a clip of it... he was redfaced and raving about evil and the devils hands... the God's vengeance... and how his followers should carry out some plan. Haleigh's face grew darker and more grim and then she stopped it abruptly when she felt herself getting too angry. The last thing she wanted was to fry the one computer they needed... and Delilah didn't need to see it either.

"Pretty intense man... a real-- [stopping herself from saying something] piece of work. Using something that was intended for good to discriminate against those who are different... using fear to turn good people against beings like us... using GOD to what... exterminate? The God he believes in... must be evil. No PURE God would want this... no truly GOOD god would want killing in her name.... his name.... what the fuck ever."

Haleigh stood up from the desk and went past Nicolas and Alison to the harddrives station, where a disc was ejecting, filled with information previously seen on the screen across the room. She put the disc in a slender jewel case and started to come back over to the desk, as Alison and Nicolas looked out at the bio-lab and Nicolas asked what went on here. Haleigh stopped just behind him and to his left, looking past him out the viewing window and down at the tanks. Her gaze went out of focus for a minute, her face tight with suppressed emotion.

"The same thing Mystech did to me in Russia... and again in the Citadle. Experimenting... trying to create and harness unparalleled power.... only THIS time the bastards were torturing KIDS."

She said quietly, and moving quickly from the window back to the desk with the disc. She let it drop onto the console and sat back down in the main chair, glancing at Ethan and shaking her head.

"I hate to burst your bubble, 007.... but you were working for Mystech... you probably WEREN'T assassinating real evil."
 
[ While the others investigated the computer files, Delilah walked about the lab, her hand brushing a table here, touching the wall there. What horrors had occurred here? She turned back and watched the team working behind her. A wave of sadness came over her - would they turn against her? Had they already? ]
 
:: Wheeling Karen behind the rest of the group, they soon entered what looked like a very high tech facility. Something that looked very similiar to MysTech. Even though Ava was the president of Cassadine Enterprises and MysTech, she really hadn't researched just how many places MysTech was associated with. But regardless, when this mission was over, Ava would withdrawl all of the technology and support MysTech had with any company that seemed 'shady' and would reinvest with other places. ::

:: Looking around, Ava caught sight of Delilah wondering around. she seemed fearful. Whatever happened to her in the past, she was truly terrified that it would effect her association with the six. ::
 
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