The nightmare begins

[Brenda Castle]

Brenda was having a blast. Being in a crowd was easy; the low din of everyone's thoughts made it sound like a crowded room. Being pushed up against Pete made his thoughts the loudest. Any physical contact made that person's thoughts crystal clear in Brenda's mind. Of all the heads to be forced to listen to, Pete's wasn't so bad. So they danced. Brenda took care not to get to crazy with he bump and grind, Pete made sure none of the other guys bothered her.

Then something happened that not even Brenda expected. Siryn was inviting her onstage! Pete gave her a little nudge of encouragement, and the backup dancers helped her on stage. the DJ is spinning a phenomenal mix, the kind that begs dancing. A childhood of ballroom dancing lessons has given her the ability to at least keep up with the rhythym.

She may be white, but she wasn't embarrassing. She could even keep up with the hot asian chick and the smooth Ne-yo look-a-like. People in the crowd were cheering them on, and some were even taking out their phones for a quick snapshot.

 

[Seer]

Night moves

<< A person didn't know what they could do until they had no choice but to do something.>>

<< Delilah faced her night in the "chamber of dreams", the master bedroom in the luxury penthouse apartment that not so long ago belonged to her best friend, Morgan Victoria a.k.a Spellbinder.>>

<< More challenging than fighting a monster or taking down a criminal was the idea of now living in the home of her dead best friend. Killing Christopher Victory and Adam Chandler was a SNAP, even for a woman of Delilah's moral fiber, compared to THIS. But as Bishop had said to her earlier on, she could...and she would.>>

<< Even as she bolted upright in the middle of the night from a disturbing dream, the rain pelting the windows around her provided a slight lull as Bishop saw to her.>>

<< This would not be easy for her. She didn't think she could do it...she had no choice.>>

--------

<< A person didnt know what they could do until they had no choice but to do something.>>

<< Far across town, in XS, three young people with at first glance nothing in common, now found themselves being called into the spotlight to dance alongside the wild, hot phenomena in dance music known as Siryn.>>

<< A socialite, a college student, and a homeless young man.>>

<< The challenge of putting on a good show. Perhaps not as "heavy" to some as dealing with the loss of a loved one, but for these young people it was now a moment where they could make a splash or a belly flop.>>

<< each of them manages to rise to the occasion and finds joy in it.>>

<< as far apart as they & Delilah are...none of them realizes that they're all within the crosshairs of a challenge that may proove far more deadly than anything they've faced in their individual lives so far.>>

-----------

<< Zoom away from XS, across town to the upper east side. 5th Avenue.>>
<< The building was once a church. But now it is home to something far from holy.>>

<< The Hellfire Club. An overt, ultra elite organization. On the surface Famous for its lavish annual gala, it is open to the wealthiest and most influential entrepreneurs, politicians and socialites, whose membership is traditionally passed on to the heirs of their estates. Within the Club at large is a secret cabal, known only to a select few. This Inner Circle, of which there are typically one or two at a time [factoring in the London branch], desire to achieve world domination through political and economic influence, subversive activities and the recruitment of mercenary forces and powerful superhumans. Its members hold positions named after chess pieces. The most powerfull of those being the [white/black/red] King and/or [white/black/red] Queen. They preside over [white/black/red] courts, the upper echelon of the Hellfire Club, usually superhumans, whose positions are also identified by chess pieces such as rook & bishop.>>

<< In it's earliest beginnings, the Hellfire Club was enshrouded in secrecy. As far as the Inner Circle goes, that has not changed, but 25 years ago, under the ruthless direction and ambition of one woman, The Hellfire Club managed to forever change the course of theirs and possibly the world's history as they staged a violent, sweeping coup, wresting control of an emerging entity known as MYSTECH from the hands of Lord Spencer, who was also a member of the Hellfire Club's inner circle.>>

<< In that one night, power changed hands, many lives; more than a few who were innocent, were lost, and the Hellfire Club gained power and reach on a global scale and SHE who controlled the Inner Circle, now controlled Mystech.>>

<< The White Queen.>>

<< Under her cold, unwavering direction, Mystech's imparitive changed and so too did it's methods. A consortium of doctors, elite and without peer in their fields of genetics, biomimicry, biotechnology and other complex, often bizarre disciplines, took Mystech's endeavors to a whole new level and, along with all the other arms in the growing tenticled entity, made the Hellfire Club's bid for world domination that much more likely.>>

<< many have disappeared or died. governments around the world at various levels have been infected with growing corruption from the touch and influence of mystech and with its multitude of companies and holdings, 9 out of 10 households in america alone contain/use its products, many without the consumer's awareness.>>

<< evil has always existed. it's nothing new, but every so often, it mutates and mutation can be more terrifying than any previous manifestation. As this evil grows unchecked, tightening its tentacled grip on nearly all aspects of life in modern society, only a select few are even aware of the deadly theat that looms and of those few...even less are remotely capable of doing anything about it.>>

<< As we watch, so do they....so does SHE.

-------------

<< Back at XS.>>

<< a slow, moving view of the interior of the club and all its patrons as well as Siryn on the center circular stage with Brenda Castle, Rich Martin & Ana-Leigh Moreau.>>

<< the moving view stops and begins moving back the other way.>>

<< the view is from digital feed of a camera, hidden inside a black orb on the ceiling in a corner, such a small, unremarkable place that hardly anyone would think to look. but LOOK closer.>>

<<FLASH just inside the orb and on the camera is an EMBLEM.>>

<< a red light on the camera blinks in a slow pattern.>>

<< ZOOM back outside of the orb. Out of the interior of XS into the dark rainy night.>>

<< of all the sounds in the city at night, none go more unnoticed than the sound of technology, data streaming underground, through cybertronic networks, over wireless connections and more. LISTEN.>>

<< Zoom up. High and away from the city skyline. Through the storm clouds into the skies above! Higher still! Past the atmosphere into open SPACE just around the Earth.>>

<< From the smallest place [the camera hidden in the orb on the ceiling in XS], through silent streams faster than the speed of thought [ data streaming across the city through various networks. following the data stream specifically from the camera] to a place in plain sight, yet never seen....>>

<< a SATELLITE in orbit. One of several, but UNLIKE those others, it bears an EMBLEM as well.>>

<< This satellite belongs to MYSTECH and from all sorts of feeds around New York come images and other information. There are FEW places Mystech's "eyes" can't see and what they CAN see, so can SHE.>>

 

[Seer]

Hellfire: Sight unseen

<< Within the posh luxury Hellfire Mansion is an ambience of classic glamor and oppulence which is enhanced by the comfort and convenience of technology seamlessly woven and grafted into the very structure of the building without taking away from its luxe splendor of the interior decor>>

<< The mansion is fully staffed, and the service personnel, both men and women, wear 18th century inspired uniforms which are designed with erotic edge.>>

<< throughout the main, accessible levels of the mansion, regal classical music plays softly over the sound system.>>

<< outside of the lavish galas Hellfire is known for, there are a few permanent residents of the mansion, members who opt to live there fulltime for whatever reason; there are those members who come to the club to indulge in their deep, dark, often "forbidden" sexual fantasies, attended by a very diverse, willing and quite capable staff consisting of men and women of all races, ethnicities and some, whose super powers made them ideally suited to the task of sexual pleasure. despite the clubs infamy, all staff at the mansion work their of their own free will and are paid legitimately. Others still come here to make sweetheart deals of financial, political or other areas that will ensure profit...usually at the expense of unsuspecting innocents. but what do innocents matter in the unyielding pursuit of domination?>>

<< tonight is, at first glance, a normal night. No galas, no meetings. Just the few long term residents and those members who are here to indulge in their desires in utter comfort and privacy.>>

<<This is the ACCESSIBLE part of the mansion.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< below ground.>>

<< a very large, sprawling complex network of sup-levels that house a cutting edge technological hub and command center; infimary and medical facilities; science labs, several luxury suites for long term residence; an arsenal of powerfull weaponry; an underground highspeed rail & train system; tunnel network of passages connected Hellfire to various other buildings across the city as well as....Arklay Mansion accessible via the underground highspeed rail.>>

<< the large underground network of sup-levels is unknown to all except the inner circle and their select allies. it is equipped with powerful state of the art technology for security, defense and anti-personnel devices.>>

<< sight unseen, it is one of the most powerful and deadly places in the city or anywhere in the country.>>

<< The Inner Circle launches its most aggressive, insidious and ambitious initiatives and plans from this area of the mansion. They control all aspects of it and SHE controls the Inner Circle.>>

<< SHE is the WHITE QUEEN.>>

 

[Malice]

The White Queen

:: She rules all that she sees.::

:: In the mansion above, she is the White Queen. Hated, Envied, Desired, Feared, Obssessed over and more. It has been that way for a long time.::

::Rarely do the feelings and emotions of those who look upon her mean ANYTHING to HER though.::

:: In the areas of the mansion BELOW GROUND, it's something all together different. From here, She continues to direct the reach and grip of Hellfire as well as the unwavering, march of Mystech, Hellfire's ULTIMATE expression of agression and bid for dominance through a variety of methods. As they march, she sees to it that anything or anyone who gets in her way is STOMPED DOWN, ground to so much dust!::

<< A view of a woman sitting in the the command center. in this sleek tech hub, she herself is largely enshrouded in shadow, save her long legs, which can be seen crossed over at the knee, and her white high heels.>>

::There were those who doubted or even underestimated her before...::

<<FLASH!>>

<< steamy images of Diana engaged in passionate, almost VIOLENT love making with Lord Spencer.>>

:: The founder of Mystech, Lord Spencer 'employed' Diana for her vast, formidable psi powers, mainly to identify mutants due to their unique brainwave patterns and select them for "service"...mainly in the form of genetic experimentation as Mystech sought to break ground in the emerging, yet still highly unethical world of genetic based technology and bio weaponry.::

:: She was also quite an asset in winning over powerfull investors as SILENT partners. She was a walking aphrodisiac for most of the hapless men in Arklay mansion at all levels of the hierarchy, particularly the genius geneticist Dr. James Marcus but only ONE ever had the addictive pleasure of "HAVING" her. Lord Spencer himself.::

:: Before Diana, Mystech was emerging but limited. WITH Diana, the gains and progress were beyond even HIS limited scope of imagination. But true to form with most men in a position like his, He actually saw HER as HIS pawn for both business and pleasure.::

:: Many times after wanton pleasures of the flesh were indulged to the point of blood and tears, he would eventually gloat to his associate, James Marcus. The BOTH viewed Diana as a TOOL. All the while working with her, secretly planning a way to ensure her cooperation or see her eliminated. But Spencer was woefully naive when it came to Diana's skill as a telepath and her ability to manipulate ANYONE, even HIM.::

:: Eventually, when Diana, whose origins and motivations for targeting fellow mutants for experimentation within the Arklay Facility were largely unknown to her male associates, grew tired of Lord Spencer and his delusions of grandeur, she ELIMINATED HIM.::

<< we see an arm stretch forth from the shadow and a smooth feminine hand with finely metallic manicured nails moving across the circular wrap counsel, touching various parts of it and bringing forth various information feeds and views of news, places, people etc on floating monitors of various sizes that surround her in a circular pattern>>

<<FLASH>>

<< Arklay Mansion- grand ball room. The match was struck, the flash and fire of BETRAYAL by Diana made clear and after a violent confrontation during which Lord Spencer vowed Diana would DIE by HIS hand, we HEAR his blood curdling SCREAM even above the din of a violent thunderstorm raging outside the mansion>>

<< we SEE him as he falls, sideways. His head looks as if its on FIRE, glowing from the WHITE halo of psionic energy that encases it. his eyes WIDE open, BULGING out & rolled up, tears of BLOOD streaming from them; His face is contorted in an expression of shock and horror and his mouth open, tongue hanging out as well as a mixture of blood and other fluids oozing out.>>

:: That was the beginning of the END of the era of Mystech under Lord Spencer and James Marcus. Diana DID, however, ensure that the legacy of Spencer and Marcus, the Progenitor and G viruses were preserved and carried over into the NEW Mystech under the control of Hellfire's Inner Circle and staffed by a group of powerful, ambitious doctors called "The Consortium".::

:: But eventually, Dr. Victory and Dr. Chandler brought about their own undoing due to their obsession with brutal experimentation rather than efficiently improving or breaking new ground. Dr. Victory's obsession with his daughters- omega level mutants- the powerfull teleporting witch Morgan and the fire elemental Blaze also became a problem. One that ended with extreme damage to one of Mystech's key scientific strongholds, The Citadle, as well as a large amount of casualties which required immediate maneuvering to ensure proper "cover up" by the media, a large portion of it controlled by MYSTECH holdings. ::

:: Still, The Consortium prooved to be too melodramatic and carless. Their genius and the dizzying highs of their rapid success and accomplishments for Mystech gave THEM a false sense of god-hood and thus, they had to be let go.::

<< one of the floating screens has a view of ILLUSTRA. The exterior. The building itself and the office park around it.>>

:: Unbeknownst to them OR Delilah, it was DIANA who made SURE that the right whispers of information and details filtered their way to Delilah so that SHE in turn would be certain to destroy Dr. Victory and Chandler. Delilah sought vengeance for Morgan and her friends and while she achieved that, at least in action, she did not know that Diana made sure the path for her to them was cleared. BUT Delilah surprised Diana when she and her rogue renegade associate BISHOP managed to DESTROY the Citadle beyond any possible use or feasible hope of reconstruction.::

:: Now Delilah herself had gone from unwitting catspaw, to TARGET.::

:: and Delilah wasnt the only one Diana was targeting...WATCHING.::

<< the largest, center floating screen and two smaller ones on either side of it all show real time digital image feeds of XS. Interior. Dancer floor. Center Stage. The mystech file on; KELLY, SHARON bioweapon index SILVER SWAN scrolls down on another floating screen. While profiles on BRENDA CASTLE; ANA-LEIGH MOREAU and RICHARD MARTIN can be seen on several other screens near the central viewing area as well. The file compiled on Brenda scrolls with information on her, her parents, alarming details. Ana-Leigh Moreau's is less detailed but still plentiful thanks to tapping into the government's network containing student financial aid information among other things. Richard Martin's is the least detailed but enough is there for her to know he's a prime target. Those three are all MUTANTS. Silver Swan is a mutate and ESCAPED PROPERTY OF MYSTECH. The mutants have been i.d.'ed by Diana herself and her new team of science and research in Mystech identified each of them for prime "opportunity". Richard Martin- candidate for the revived SUPER SOLDIER project; Ana-Leigh Moreau- candidate for new superhuman strike force team whose obedience is ensured by genetic manipulation & implanting of bio technology that will cause extreme pain if commands are not obeyed ; BRENDA CASTLE...Diana wants BRENDA to serve her PERSONALLY on the White Court of the Inner Circle.>>

::a uniformed Mystech Shock Troop enters the tech hub and nervously clears his throat::

Shock Troop: White Queen...data stream and satellite feeds have confirmed that Silver Swan as well as the 3 targets are at the Club XS...

Diana: ::in a low, cold tone:: I can see THAT for myself. Do you have any other startling revelations?

Shock Troop: :: swallows nervously:: We have a bio hazard counter measure team assembled to capture Brenda Castle.

Diana: Did they equip themselves with the psi shielded helmets I designed?

Shock Troop: Yes Ma'am

Diana: Ensure that they have the appropriate weaponry to use in capturing her. Brenda, while young, is already an accomplished telepath. Her psi signature is quite strong even in this city filled with varying degrees of paltry psychics. You have my orders. Take her down hard and immobilize her. Bring her back here to me.

Shock Troop: Yes Ma'am...But what about Silver Swan?

Diana: Who asked you to think or anticipate? You receive my orders and OBEY! Silver Swan is, OF COURSE, a high priority PROBLEM. One we wouldn't even HAVE if Victory and Chandler hadn't become so OBSSESSED with those omega level mutant sisters Morgan and Blaze.

:: the hand that emerged from the shadowed form seated in the large chair clenches into a fist and a white halo forms around it.::

Diana: YOU are paid to do a JOB, not question OR advise me. CAPTURE Brenda Castle and bring her to ME! Use only NECESSARY force to subdue her. I want her UNHARMED. Is that clear?

Shock Troop: Yes ma'am.

Diana: Now get to work!

:: The shock troop salutes and quietly exits. Leaving the shadowed woman alone once more.::

Silver Swan...by far one of the most PERFECT successes of Mystech! You benefited from a wild, chaotic convergence of circumstance and opportunity to win your freedom and you are powerful indeed...but you are ALONE. ANd while your mind is almost impossible even for ME to read, as it is now, I KNOW you are lost. You aren't even whole until yourself..."SIRYN"...

:iana laughs softly, amused by Silver Swan's 2ndary alter ego of SIRYN, the wildly popular dance diva who is an enigma to the entertainment and music industry thus far::

You have NO ONE in this playground of mine and your purpose is to SERVE. Whether you accept that or NOT is irrelevant. You are PROPERTY and I ALWAYS take what is MINE.

:: she slowly runs her metallic manicured fingernails across the command counsel as she shifts in her chair ever so slightly to look among the screens featuring Brenda, Rich and Ana-Leigh::

Yes, I do. And it is the doom of ALL...

:: looking at the ongoing surveilance feed of ILLUSTRA, knowing DELILAH was somewhere inside of it::

Who try to stop me!

 

[Seer]

Later sill

<< Illustra, 107th Floor, Penthouse Apartment, "Chamber of Dreams.">>

<< For Delilah, who's done so much in her life, far more than some who see themselves as more important than they actually are, the hardest thing for her to do right now...is sleep.>>

<< Several times she's tried but her dreams haunt her. Being in this place, this room...it pains her.>>

<< a monster would be easier to deal with. ANYTHING would be preferrable to this. Not even her mutant power can protect her from something with no physical substance yet having the impact of even more than her strongest pressor beam of photons...GRIEF.>>

<<After the Citadle, after that small measure of vengeance, she was left a changed woman, the most obvious indicator of that being her wheelchair. But she was still here...and so was Mystech. The score wasn't settled. Mystech was growing like a cancer unchecked, already a part of too many aspects of society here and abroad. so many lives touched, destroyed, lost. so many aspects of life now tainted, perverted and forever altered and yet...it remained a menace sight unseen. known only to those who were victims or accomplices and those precious few who dared to stand against it.>>

<< Delilah was in the third group, as had been her best friend Morgan, along with Blaze and Alison. They were gone...and their deaths covered up as something OTHER than murder. But Delilah wasn't alone. She had Bishop, who'd prooven he could hold his own even in the face of such monolithic, terrifying horror as what they faced in the Citadle. She had Alycia Barnett. A powerfull, resourcefull, bold woman who waged battles in the courtroom and boardroom to protect those who couldnt protect themselves. Bishop may not have known but Delilah knew that Alycia could be trusted. She was Morgan's legal counsel and later, a trusted friend.>>

<< But there was more...Delilah would not...COULD NOT rest until Mystech was DESTROYED. She couldn't do alone. Not even Bishop and Alycia were enough either. She needed help from her PEERS and the idea she had...was the flicker of another major change her life would go through. With the enactment of Morgan's will, Delilah now had the resources she needed to go FORWARD. There were risks involved...but to her, they were hardly enough to stop her from going forward.>>

<< So despite the fear, the pain, the grief...harsh as they were...not even THEY could stop her from going forward with a plan that she believed...hoped would FINALLY bring Mystech crashing down.>>

<< Tommorow would be the first step. An important trip to Bellfast. But for NOW...she lays in her bed...realizing how each passing second could feel like an HOUR in this, her first night in the "chamber of dreams"...her new bedroom in her new home...on the eve of her new life.>>

--------------

<< time passes. shift across town to XS.>>

<< The show is over. The time has come for the patrons to find elsewhere to go in the last few hours of this late night. It's "Fallout" time now as people slowly but steadily leave XS and head out to various destinations...some surprisingly as normal as HOME for bed.>>

<< But for a few...the evening has one more turn to take.>>

<< Siryn has already left. No one saw her leave but she's no where to be found. She did not stay for autographs, nor did she indulge the talent scouts from various record labels who were trying to gain an audience with her. Among them was a man representing Titania Records, a record label under the Castle conglomerate. Brenda Castle, the heiress of the Castle empire, was unaware that a talent agent from Titania was present at XS.>>

<< Still, She along with her suddenly cast co-dancers Rich Martin and Ana-Leigh Moreau had quite the memorable evening. Three young, attractive people with diverse life paths but one critical common factor- they were all mutants.>>

<< that fact was not lost on OTHERS beyond these walls either, as Brenda was about to find out.>>

<< She was among the few who could exit XS through a private back entrance, one used by the VIP and celebrities to avoid gaping crowds, traffic and papparazzi. Pete, her would be suitor, had gone ahead to summon a car for them, but he'd taken an awfully long time to return.>>

<< Brenda, still waiting while others passed by, finally slipped out of the door into the back way behind XS. Standing under the awning, the rain had decreased to a light drizzle at this point and the air was cool but fresh with a mild breeze. She'd had a ball, moreso than she could have imagined. Few could stand beside her and not feel insecure but she felt nothing like that from Siryn. In fact, she couldnt quite describe WHAT she'd felt from Siryn. That made the woman's mystique all the more alluring and Brenda could somewhat understand the fury of popularity around Siryn at the moment.>>

<< Her erstwhile fellow dancers, whose names she got near the end when they all exchanged friendly pleasantries before Siryn quickly left, also had a unique "read"...She was not able to discern a mutant via psi scan like Diana but the thoughts she did sense from Ana-Leigh and Rich indicated they were both more than they seemed.>>

<< A multifacted evening indeed...one that was not over yet...but sometimes...there CAN be TOO MUCH of a 'good thing'...>>

<< Brenda waits, unaware of a sleek, black vehicle that is cloaked nearby. Within that vehicle is the team of shock troops, heavily armed. the best trained mercenaries that money could by, armed with cutting edge tech and in this group's case, psi shieled helmets and devices that prey on a telepath's weaknesses, especially one who is not experienced enough. they wear featurless face plates to add to the psychological warfare aspect and to make it impossible to identify WHO is behind the mask.>>

<< Pete won't be returning. He can't. He lies where he fell after being stunned unconscious by an energy baton.>>

-----------------------

<< Rich Martin's time in the spotlight and XS was now at an end. He'd succeeded in getting in, eating, drinking, dancing and capped it all off dancing with Siryn and her dancers along with two pretty women around his age. He met them shortly afterward. He probably wouldn't see them again, which in a way was best, considering that while they each had somewhere to go...he did not. But he didn't tell THEM that.>>

<< It had been a good evening, but sadly, all good things come to an end.>>

<< A pity...for he and Siryn aka Silver Swan aka Sharon Kelly had something in common. BOTH were alone in this wild, sprawling metropolis with no family or friends. They were BOTH super powered as well. He had that in common with all FOUR of them. Maybe if they knew that about him they could...>>

<< As we watch him make a decision about which way to go as he head out into the night, he doesnt think so...but he actually will see those girls again...sooner than he thinks.>>

-----------------

<< Ana-Leigh Moreau. A fish out of water in so many ways but also quick to adapt. That's what kept her from going the way of so many others back where she came from. Here she ernestly plotted a new life for herself and being a student at NYU was a constant learning experience in so many ways.>>

<< Tonight was such fun for her! Dancing with Siryn and the other two, she couldnt have guessed that would happen but what a ride it was. As reserved as she felt sometimes, she was always glad for Marco to help her step out and let her hair down sometimes. But unbenknownst to her, she'd just shared the stage with people who would come to be more vital in her life here than anyone else thus far.>>

<< As she and Marco make their way, they decide to stop in a late night coffee house and take a moment to gush [with Marco doing most of the gushing] over what happened at XS.>>

<< The coffee house was on the same street that Rich was now walking down and that street was just two blocks away from XS, where Brenda was waiting...where Hellfire was closing in.>>

 

[Brenda Castle]

It had been fun but exhaustive. Brenda met and exchanged pleasantries with her fellow 'spotlight' dancers, Ana-Leigh Moreau and Rich Martin. Both were thinking about the once-in-a-lifetime experience they'd just had, but Brenda noticed that they weren't as fazed by it as a typical 20-something would be. They seemed more mature about it.... like they'd lived through enough to realize that while it was quite fun, there were more important things in their lives, demanding their focus.

But the meeting was brief, and Brenda wasn't really subjected to much more of their thoughts. A flamboyantly gay guy named Marco bombarded Ana-Leigh and dragged her away, and Rich put his arm around a socialite acquaintance of Brenda's, drifting off with a wink. Pete came up with Brenda's jacket, helped her into it and then offered to have her car pulled around back. Apparently it was a disaster area out front, with everyone trying to get out.

After freshening up in the ladies room and waiting a while in one of the VIP rooms, Brenda texted Pete to find out what was causing the delay. After a few minutes of no response, Brenda stepped out the private back entrance, thinking maybe they had been waiting for her this whole time.

The alley was dark and deserted. She pulled her coat tighter against the wet breeze, lifting her collar to shield her face against the cold drizzle. She was starting to worry. Where was Pete and her driver? She had been sure Pete meant that he'd have the car pulled around back so she could avoid the throng of people out front.... but now she didn't know. It was kind of creepy back here, not that she really had anything to worry about. There was no one back here and even if someone tried to attack her, she could easily change their minds, or if she HAD to, knock the sense out of them with a psycho-blast.

Still, she couldn't talk down the nagging feeling that she was being stalked. She stepped out from under the awning, starting down the alley and back toward Broadway. She was tired of waiting. If Pete wasn't bringing the car around to meet her, she'd just go find it herself. Not ten feet from the back door to XS, she felt someone grab her right arm. She looked over quickly, surprised that someone snuck up on her, surprised she didn't hear their thoughts even if they had silenced their footsteps. It was man wearing some kind of helmet, dressed in tactical gear. Brenda instinctively tried to pull away, but another man appeared on her left and took hold of that arm as well.

"Hey! Stop! What do you think you're doing?!?!"

She exclaimed, trying to wrench free of them. They had her in a vise like grip, and started to steer her towards a vehicle parked deeper in the alley. Terror struck through Brenda like lightning. She tried planting her feet, but the two faceless commandos marched on, dragging her between them. She was not strong enough to over power ONE of the men, let alone two. She could not reach their minds to manipulate them. Their thoughts were eeriely silent. It was like being abducted by two machines.

"NO!!! HELP! PETE! ANYONE! SOMEONE HELP!"

No one was forthcoming. Craning her neck around while stuggling against her abductors, Brenda could see there was still nobody back in this alley. They were nearing their creepy black rapist van. As much as Brenda didn't want to 'out' herself, if it was a matter of survival, she found herself prepared to do it. She stopped struggling, and just looked at the man to her left. She looked him full in the face. She could see herself in the reflective facade of his facemask. She could see her bright blue eyes, glowing like LEDs. She released a mild psycho-blast at near point-blank range. The concussive effect shattered his helmet to smithereens, exposing his face-- and his thoughts-- to Brenda.

They were here to capture her. They weren't supposed to harm her. They knew she was a telepath, which Brenda thought to be impossible, because she hadn't told a single SOUL herself. They were taking her to 'the White Queen', whoever that was. Brenda didn't bother trying to wait to see if the man's thoughts would reveal the White Queen's identity. All Brenda wanted was to escape, so she blasted the man right in the forehead with another irridescent blue beam. She wasn't trying to kill him or put him in a permanent coma, but she was afraid for her life and she might've underestimated her own strength. The man collapsed instantly.

The other guy was already pawing at her, but Brenda was fighting back with audacity. Clawing, punching, kicking to get free of his chokehold, and once she got her eyes on him, unleashing a psychoblast that hit him in the chest like a sledgehammer. She heard his ribs break, and vaguely felt bad. He fell to the ground too. Brenda had a fleeting second to appreciate the fact that she'd freed herself. Then the door to the van slid open, and out poured more faceless attackers. One held a baton of some sort that was emitting some kind of telepathic interference. It made Brenda's ears ring and her head felt like it was being pressed in from all sides. Brenda clutched her temples, falling to her knees. She started to crawl away, but was overtaken by the gang quickly...

 

[Silver Swan]

Attack

[ She'd been watching from the ROOFTOP of XS. She'd heard the arrival of the vehicle long before anyone ELSE could have registered something was there and SHE knew who they were.]

[ She'd been here before. Lure them out with an overt display of herself and her power. Lay in wait. Swoop in to KILL once they came looking for her. Try as they could, they could NOT contain or capture her. The only thing more raw than her power was her willingness to use it. Her VIOLENCE and brutality toward THEM.]

[ Tonight was different. She'd been waiting, crouched down on the rooftop. She was going to attack them and kill ALL save one. Leave him badly hurt but just able to report back to THEM...that they'd failed. That SHE was still on the loose but something went wrong.]

[ A girl. Blonde...]

<<FLASH>>

<< Siryn meeting her "spotlight dancers". BRENDA CASTLE.>>

...SHE'S not supposed to be here!?

[ She was waiting for something...or someone but instead she got THEM. This wasn't right! Why would they come out for a BASELINE HUMAN? But then again...what had SHE been before she was TURNED INTO SILVER SWAN?]

[the ambush was fast and would overwhelm most, but the girl managed to defend herself just enough...and then there was something else! Her silver eyes spot a flash of electric blue LIGHT, some kind of...ENERGY? flaring from the girl against one of the goons.]

she's a mutant.

[but still...they weren't supposed to be capturing HER, they were SUPPOSED to be falling into SILVER SWAN'S trap! This just was NOT acceptable.]

[her silver eyes narrow with a bit of irritation at this unexpected development.]

"NO!!! HELP! PETE! ANYONE! SOMEONE HELP!"

The target's struggling too much, and she's decked one the troops. That psychic mumbo jumbo somehow cracked his helmet and shield! There's no telling WHAT she's read from his mind. KO her before this gets out of hand!

[ reinforcements burst from the back of the truck and this squad is armed more like what SHE would expect. They nail the girl quickly but she's not down yet. For a moment...Silver Swan feels...a PANG...of sympathy!? She can't help but remember what FEAR she felt all those years earlier when SHE was in this spot]

<<FLASH!>>

<< Arklay Forest. Retreat cabin. Night. She's the last one of her friends left. They've all been brutally murdered, their bodies left for her to discover as she's been running for her life. screaming for help. It never comes. She's injured as she falls, now surrounded by men who look just like the ones attacking Brenda. >>

[She was HELPLESS then. She ISN'T NOW]

ENOUGH of this!

[as the backup squad prepares to finish off Brenda and collect her, a flash of lightning pierces the sky and their sensors detect sudden, FAST movement from above.]

shock troop: AW HELL! We've got company!

That's RIGHT!

[dropping down among the squad and with one smooth movement, PUNCHING the one who first saw her in the face so hard that it shatters the face plate utterly, breaks his nose and leaves a DEEP, bloody fist print in his face as he is sent FLYING into a brick wall]

You're SUPPOSED to be here FOR ME.

shock troop 2: our primary objective is Brenda Castle! We're not to engage Silver Swan

After everything you've DONE TO ME!? I'm NOT GOING TO BE IGNORED! I'll KEEP COMING AFTER YOU TILL I GET ALL OF YOU!

[Silver Swan's sonic enhanced voice thunders through the air. She doesnt realize she's unintentionally causing BRENDA pain as well]

shock troop 3: who cares! you know what this bio hazard is capable of! they want HER just as much as any other target! NAIL HER!

[ they try.]

[ Brenda watches in pained disbelief as Silver Swan attacks them SAVAGELY. the two who first grabbed Brenda are dead in mere seconds. Her speed and strength are beyond their hope of handling, let alone surviving. the next two open fire with plasma cannons. she takes to the air and forces them to keep after her. They're SCARED. She can HEAR their heart beats of FEAR and their baited breath]

[finally she swoops down, closing in on THEM, shrieking like a bird of prey even as THEY scream and then its over, with her arms stretched out horizontally, she makes a DEADLY pass between them and as she flies past, she DECAPITATES them cleanly with her armoured hands.]

[ there's one more. He's been attempting to radio the white queen, whoever that is. he tries to make it to the truck]

Oh no! You're not going ANYWHERE!

[ thrusting her armored hand forward, she unleashes several spinning stars that fly through the air so fast while gleaming. one hits him in the back. another the shoulder and the other two his legs. He falls down, wailing pitifully.]

SHUT UP!

[ kicking him in the stomach]

You don't cry when you're ATTACKING helpless people! When you're STALKING people who have no idea why you're after them! You don't CRY WHEN YOU ROB PEOPLE OF THEIR LIVES DO YOU!?

[ stomping him so hard his ribs CRACK]

I hope you told your masters that it was ME who attacked you. I KNEW you'd come...just like YOU ALWAYS DO and now I've KILLED THEM just as I will YOU!

And Let this be a REMINDER to THEM [Mystech]. I'll KEEP doing this! I WON'T STOP until I've KILLED THEM ALL!

[ she spreads her arms and spins, faster and faster still, turning into a column of wind? it seems and she SPINS ACROSS the man, whose scream is terrifying as it is short, cutting him to RIBBONS as she lets loose more spinning stars over his body]

[ it's over. they're DEAD and no doubt something in their truck recorded it and its gotten back to Mystech. That's what she WANTS.]

[ She stands before Brenda]

I'm sorry that happened to you. You weren't supposed to be the one they attacked. They always come after ME and I always KILL THEM.

[ Brenda can't see the woman's face entirely due to the silver eye mask she wears]

Hurry. You just get out of here. It's dangerous... out of your league and none of your concern. I can't keep KILLING THEM If i have to protect people who are in the way!

[ And with that, Silver Swan launches into the air and takes off, streaking into the sky FAST and soon, she's gone. Leaving Brenda amongst a several corpses.]

 

[Matrix]

Rich was walking alone. AGAIN. But no problem.

He'd had a good night. REAL good. The girl he was dancing with was willing to take him to her dorm for a nightcap or whatever but he didn't feel like it to be honest. She was drunk and the pickings were a bit TOO easy, didn't feel right. He figured he would maybe check her out later sometime, he got the digits and made up an excuse as to why he had none of his own. She seemed satisfied with that and he gave her a nice kiss and a booty squeeze before putting her in her car for home.

He was walking down the street, taking in the glow of the city as he tried to fiure out where the hell he was gonna sleep. Shelters were out, he was determined not to take up a spot from someone who could not handle the elements as well as HE could. And so he walked in the light rain...

After everything you've DONE TO ME!? I'm NOT GOING TO BE IGNORED! I'll KEEP COMING AFTER YOU TILL I GET ALL OF YOU!

What the hell?

Rich turned away from the front of a coffee house and began to jog lightly to where he heard the yell and commotion. It was behind XS as he heard people yelling as he got closer. Then it became silent, save for a voice.

I'm sorry that happened to you. You weren't supposed to be the one they attacked. They always come after ME and I always KILL THEM.

Hurry. You just get out of here. It's dangerous... out of your league and none of your concern. I can't keep KILLING THEM If i have to protect people who are in the way!

As a shape flew away (?!), Rich stepped out into the alley to find Brenda, the cute blonde from XS, standing around what appeared to be a pile of dead soldiers.

You OK? I heard a commotion...

Rich stepped forward as he spoke, palms out to show he meant her no harm.

 

[Brenda Castle]

The 'noise' coming from the baton has Brenda in so much pain that she's near tears. Her weak attempt to crawl away makes her an easy target for the man that grabs her by the hair.

Shock Troop: "Come on, Blondie."

Brenda: "NO..... get AWAY from me!"

She replies, sounding feral. Her irises are glowing again, but the man with a fistful of her hair turns her head away as she unleashes another pycho-blast. It hits the pavement and leaves a smoking pothole where it lands.

Shock Troop: "AW HELL!!! We've got company!"

Brenda is pushed to the ground but released. The men are opening fire, the beams from their flashlights glinting off the silver bodice of a beautiful masked vigilante woman. Brenda notices an uncanny resemblance to Siryn, but its hard to say for sure with he lighting and her face partially obscured by a mask. A shock troop near Brenda commands that Brenda herself is the primary objective and that they aren't to engage 'Silver Swan'. But the woman they are referring to will not be ignored. Her voice is loud, piercing and painful to Brenda's ears.

Brenda tries to pick up on the Silver Swan's thoughts. They should be easy to hear, one woman among the many silent men in this dark alley. But Brenda can't make them out. They are fleeting, slippery and hard to substantialize. Brenda gets only the vague sense of the Swan's homicidal revenge. Brenda watches in shocked horror as the Swan eviscerates the competition. What happens next is as vivid as it is terrble. There is a flurry of violence, punctuated by splatters of blood and the cries of dying men. And then there is silence, and Brenda and the Silver Swan are alone amongst an array of corpses. Brenda is not sure if the woman intends to kill her next, but she is rooted to the spot. From everything she'd just seen, it would be stupid to try and run. She might as well stand her ground. With the pressure relieved, Brenda's eyes glow so bright it seems unreal, as she prepares one last psycho-blast, as strong as she can manage. It will either save her life, or make the Swan angry enough to kill Brenda quickly. She didn't want to get the slice-and-dice treatment that the last guy had gotten.

Silver Swan: "I'm sorry that happened to you. You weren't supposed to be the one they attacked. They always come after ME and I always KILL THEM. Hurry. You just get out of here. It's dangerous... out of your league and none of your concern. I can't keep KILLING THEM If i have to protect people who are in the way!"

Brenda took a deep breath of relief as the lady zoomed away. So the Swan wasn't going to kill her. Brenda's eyes started to fade back to their normal blue. The massacre sunk in as she looked around at the gore surrounding her. She felt sick, like she might vomit, but as she doubled over and coughed, nothing came up. She recovered with slow, deep breathing. She looked around again, more composed this time. She had never seen a dead body before, and now she was crawling over one in order to get away from them all. She didn't know how to feel about it. Her legs were unsteady, they felt like they were made of jello. Her whole body trembled. She staggered slowly alongside the back wall of XS, one hand on the building to steady her gait. She nearly tripped over his crumpled form.

"Pete? Oh, Pete! Thank god you're okay! [kneeling beside him] Pete, wake up!"

Pete groaned softly, his hand going to the back of his head as Brenda helped him sit up, making sure he faced away from the massacre in the back of the alley. Rich Martin, the guy dancer from earlier, strolled onto the scene.

Rich: You ok? I heard a commotion.

Brenda didn't sense a threat from him, which was lucky for him. She was on edge right now, and would've psycho-blasted the IQ out of whoever tried to hurt her at this point.

Pete: What happened? My head....

Brenda: "We were..... attacked..... by a gang."

Brenda said shakily. She wasn't up for a cover story just yet. She looked up at Rich and willed him not to say anything about the death scene behind them. Pete didn't need to see that. No one should have to see that.

Brenda: "Rich... I have a driver. He's probably waiting out front. Will you help me get Pete to the car? He's hurt."

She was hurt too, but scraped knees and psychological damage didn't stop a person from walking. Pete pitched once he was pulled to his feet, and it was kind of scary. His head wound was slightly scorched and had reopened when he lifted his head, making it bleed freely.

 

[MorningStar]

Now that Delilah had fully taken possession of Morgan’s penthouse, to be used as her base of operations so to speak, it was back out of town as quickly as she had come into it. She and Connor had a late night reservation on a private jet, which with the time change got them into Belfast as people were still rushing to work. Delilah didn’t ask Connor how he’d arranged the high speed plane – she figured it was better if she didn’t know. She’d told him she didn’t need him to accompany her – she would be back in New York that night, after all – but he’d refused. And if anyone was as stubborn as Delilah Trelaven, it was Connor St. James.

So now, a continent away, a plan a long time in the making was finally being put into action...

 

[Bishop]

Connor spotted the kid in the harbor, walking to work in the brisk morning air. The sky was overcast, the ground wet from the overnight rain. He had a picture and two addresses – home and job – to work with. The kid – who Delilah’s file had told him was called Andrew Murphy – ducked into a news agent’s for a coffee, so Connor waited outside, hands thrust into his coat pockets. This weather sucked. He should have dressed warmer.

Andrew exited the shop, coffee in hand, and Connor immediately got in his way.

“Excuse me,” the kid said, only slightly perturbed at the inconvenience. But he looked Connor dead in the eye. Points for that.

“Andrew Murphy, there’s someone who’d like to meet you.”

 

[Titan]

Belfast - Dock Area

Andrew was on his way to work, minding his own business. It had been pissing rain all night long, but thankfully it had all but stopped now. It made his work difficult when all the equipment was wet. He hated that. He popped into the shop to get a cup of coffee, the same shop he bought a cup from every day. Nelson ran the place. He liked Nelson. He had a glance at the back pages of the papers as he left. Liverpool had lost. Again. Arsehats.

As he stepped back out onto the street, a guy like an ape stepped out in front of him, like he’d been waiting for him. He got ready to run – you never knew with this town. Probably just a wacko, but it paid to be careful.

“Excuse me,” he said, with a little bit of a smile so as not to provoke anything. It also paid to be polite, his mum had always said.

But the man didn’t move. He just stood there in front of him like a big ugly statue. And then the statue spoke.

“Andrew Murphy, there’s someone who’d like to meet you.”

Oh boy.

Andrew put his head down and tried to circle away from the man.

“Sorry, mate, that’s not the side my bread’s buttered on, if you get my meaning.”

The man was following after him.

“Find someone else to play patty-cake with, alright?”

Connor: “I’m not looking for a date, this is about a job opportunity.”

Andrew stopped and turned around to face his stalker. He got square in the other man’s face.

“Look, I don’t go in for the whole IRA thing, and I’m not scared of ya. So go back and tell whoever it is, I’m not interested in being a martyr for my country or whatever it is you want me to do.”

 

[Bishop]

Man, this kid had balls.

Connor shook his head and rubbed his eyes.

“Do I sound like I’m from the IRA?”

The kid started to speak but then stopped, clearly putting together that, no, that didn’t make sense and he should have realized it himself. Andrew took a step backwards.

“My employer would like to speak to you about a job. One hour. Here’s the address.”

Connor stuffed a business card into Andrew’s coat pocket.

“What have you got to lose? It’s got to be better than working on the docks.”

That hit a nerve. The boy’s eyes grew fiery with anger, and he stepped up into Connor’s face again.

Andrew: “It’s honest work. Nothing wrong with it. And from the looks of ya, you don’t have much experience with honest work.”

“Listen, kid, don’t talk about things you know nothing about.”

Andrew: “I’m free to talk all I want about your mum, then, right?”

Andrew winked at him and smiled, challengingly. Connor rolled his eyes.

“Just be there.”

He turned and started heading back the way he’d came.

“Stupid kid.”

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah sat with Connor at a table in the (dark) back corner of the pub where they were to meet with Andrew. Connor had a beer in front of him, despite it being the morning. Typical. Delilah was picking at the extremely unhealthy breakfast that lay before her but which was apparently “the special”.

“He’s a punk,” Connor was saying. “I don’t understand why you’re even bothering.” After a pause. “I don’t like him. And I think it’s dangerous you meeting him here. We don’t know anything about this guy – who knows what he’s capable of.”

“Handsome, is he?” Delilah commented snarkily, not even looking up from her eggs. She checked her watch. “And late.”

Connor: “He’s not going to show. This whole trip was a huge waste of time.”

“Patience.”

And at that moment, a tall but slender youth entered the pub, dressed in a heavy peacoat. He spies Connor and makes his way over, motioning to the barman for a pint as he moves.

 

[Titan]

Belfast - King's Cross Pub

He wasn’t going to go. A crazy person handed him the card of a pub and wanted him to leave work in the middle of the morning to meet some mysterious other crazy person about a supposed job. Right. But no one could say that Andrew Murphy didn’t have a sense of adventure, or at least a great deal of curiosity. So he made an excuse to his boss and made his way back into town to the pub.

He entered slowly, not sure of exactly what he’d find there. He saw the man-ape seated in the back, and it didn’t look like anyone was about to jump out and throw him into the trunk of a car, so he started towards the back tables. He waved towards the barman – Declan – and motioned for the usual. As he neared the table, Andrew saw the woman sitting next to the Neanderthal.

His mouth erupted into his most endearing smile – he’d practiced it in the mirror for weeks when he was twelve – showing every single perfectly white tooth. He pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat backwards on it next to the blonde woman.

“Well hello gorgeous! If you’d have asked me instead of ape face over here, I’d have been on time!”

He winked over at Gargantua.

“You could have told me the date was with her – why I might not have come thinking I was going to be spending the morning with the likes of you.”

Declan arrived and set the pint down in front of him.

“Aw, cheers.”

He took a big mouthful of lager holding the glass with one hand as he pulled his chair closer to the woman with the other and leaned in. He set the glass down and picked up a thick rasher from her plate and began munching on it.

“Now, love, I believe you wanted to look soulfully into my eyes and discuss some sort of job?”

 

[MorningStar]

Belfast - King's Cross Pub

Their target – Andrew – pulled a chair up next to her.

“Well hello gorgeous! If you’d have asked me instead of ape face over here, I’d have been on time!”

Delilah just stared at Andrew for a moment, then turned to Connor and raised her eyebrows. Connor rolled his eyes.

The boy was cheerfully digging into his beer – and her breakfast – and sitting an uncomfortably close distance to her.

“Now, love, I believe you wanted to look soulfully into my eyes and discuss some sort of job?”

Delilah leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest, and just kept staring at this person in front of her. He was, in fact, handsome. Tall, slender, deep blue eyes and the whitest smile she’d ever seen on someone from the British Isles. And he wasn’t at all uncomfortable at her silence.

Delilah began to laugh.

She couldn’t help it. And he only smiled more. What an oddball this young man was.

Composing herself, she got down to business.

“Andrew, my name is Delilah Trelaven. You’ve already met my associate, Connor St. James.”

Andrew nodded in Bishop’s direction.

Andrew: “Alright, Connor.”

Delilah glanced at Bishop to see him giving her a hard look and trying to hide the coronary he was having because she had just told the boy her – and his - name. Served him right.

“Have you ever heard of Mystech?”

Andrew: “A’course I have. They make…well pretty much everything. Sponsor a few rugby teams too. Is that what this is about? You’re scouts?”

“No, Andrew, we’re not scouts. We’re here because you have special abilities, abilities that make you different.”

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

She had to give Marco credit, she had a GREAT time at Club XS. Honestly, Ana-Leigh assumed it would be a bunch of 18 year old socialites stumbling around like Lindsay Lohan with shitty music pumping through the 808's. But surprisingly, the atmosphere was fun, the music wasn't bad, and there were only a small amount of asshole teenagers that looked like they were trying out for an MTV reality show. But ironically enough, the highlight of the evening was dancing up on stage with Siryn. Despite her more subdued personality, she kind of let her hair down....and it felt nice.

After their debut as dancers, Ana-Leigh briefly met Siryn and the two other dancers. That was when she realized that the blonde was none other than Brenda Castles, of the New York Castles. Fucking Rockafellar! Who would of thought? But she kept that knowledge to herself. Shortly after they exchanged pleasantries, Ana-Leigh peeled Marco off one of the male backup dancers and walked arm in arm with him out of the club and down the block.

Whhhhhhy did you dooooo thhhaaaat?

He sounded like Desi Arnez when he was drunk. It was hysterical.

"You're drunk. And the last time you were drunk you hooked up with a drag queen dressed as Liza Minnelli."

He was dressed like Liza Minnelli? Daaamnn....I thought it was Selena with a pixie cut.

[trying not to laugh] "Either way, you made me promise not to allow you to have any more drunken hookups. So we're getting some food, okay?"

They made it about two blocks before reaching a 24 hour diner they frequented a lot when in Manhattan late at night.

Okay, we need to make better rules. Like....Abercrombie hot is okay. Liza Minnelli....not okay.

Ana-Leigh guided Marco over to a booth and sat him down. Chuckling, she smiled and agreed as she took a seat across from him.

"Deal. Same rules apply to me. I really don't want to wake up to a Liza look alike. Especially Liza circa 2000."

They both shudder and laugh. After ordering their usual apple crumble pies, shared chili cheese fries, and two cokes, Ana-Leigh and Marco began to gossip about what happened that evening. Marco was thrilled and oddly impressed that Ana could dance the way she did. He couldn't believe that they even got to meet Siryn afterwards. He was pretty much star struck AND the quietest Ana had ever seen him before in her life. It was hilarious. They continued to chat completely unaware of the events that were happening a mere 2 blocks away from them.

 

[Matrix]

Pete: What happened? My head....

Brenda: "We were..... attacked..... by a gang."

Rich had never seen a gang THIS well put together in terms of weapons and gear, but he decided not to say anything about that.

Brenda: "Rich... I have a driver. He's probably waiting out front. Will you help me get Pete to the car? He's hurt."

She was hurt too, but scraped knees and psychological damage didn't stop a person from walking. Pete pitched once he was pulled to his feet, and it was kind of scary. His head wound was slightly scorched and had reopened when he lifted his head, making it bleed freely.

He easily lifted the guy up on to his shoulder before Brenda dropped him and started helping them both to the car. He took out a handkerchief and placed it on the bleeding wound on Pete's head. Grasping gently Brenda's hand, he placed it over the handkerchief, flashing a sweet smile to reassure her.

Steady pressure here, like this. YOU hold on to HIM, I can steady you both to the car, OK Brenda? Once we get there, we can see about YOUR injuries.

May as well help these two as much as I can, damn sure beats wandering the streets all night trying to find something to eat...

 

[Titan]

The woman started to laugh at him. He grinned over at her. He so had her. Score another point for Mr. Irresistible.

He glanced over at Ape Face as the woman – Delilah – introduced him. He didn’t look happy that EITHER of them were there. Andrew nodded in the gruff man’s direction.

“Alright, Connor.”

Delilah asked him if he’d ever heard of Mystech, which was like asking him if he’d ever heard of Guinness or Roy Keane. But maybe they were here to resurrect his career…Tarzan had said this was about a job. And the only job he was really qualified for – other than dock work – was rugby.

“No, Andrew, we’re not scouts. We’re here because you have special abilities, abilities that make you different.”

Shite.

He pushed his chair back.

Fan girl.

“Listen, lady – it’s real sweet you comin’ all the way from America for an autograph and a picture, but maybe it’s not reached all the way across the pond yet that my career in professional rugby is over.”

He stood up and downed the rest of his pint.

“I have no ‘special abilities’ – not anymore.”

He started to go, but Delilah grabbed his arm.

Delilah: “Your loss of ability is to be expected. If you sit down, I’ll tell you why.”

He eyed her suspiciously, then turned to Connor. Connor’s face was blank. Thanks for the help, bucko.

After a second, he flipped his chair around the right way and sat down crossing his arms and leaning back on the chair. He motioned for Delilah to continue.

 

[Brenda Castle]

Brenda was mostly worried about Pete's injuries, but it was Rich's help that brought him sharply into her focus. First of all, Brenda noticed how much different Rich looked out of the club. He'd looked like a dead ringer for Ne-Yo up on stage. She had been sure of it. Now he looked nothing like the famous R&B singer. But Brenda knew it to be Rich. She recognized his mental pattern.

When he took her hand to press it to Pete's head, Brenda could hear his mind clearly. He was saying something about steady pressure, but his thoughts were completely different, and Brenda instantly knew something that he was trying to hide. Despite his nice clothes, he had no place to go, or even money for food!

She processed this revelation as Rich helped her to the car. Her driver, Doyle, jumped out in alarm, and she gave the dubious gang-attack story again. Doyle helped them get Pete in the car, with Brenda sliding in next to him to give him something to lean against. Brenda told Doyle that they were to make full speed home, to her suite at the Palace hotel.

"Rich, would you mind riding with us? I'll need help getting Pete up to my room. Doyle's old. I can't expect him to be much help."

Rich agrees, as Brenda knew he would. She contemplates the best way to offer Rich a place to stay without seeming condescending. She hoped it would come up naturally in conversation but didn't think it would. She was faced with the decision of outing herself, or letting this guy leave to sleep on the streets after soliciting his help.

Pete leans against Brenda, his head against her chest as she tries to keep pressure on the back of his head. The full contact allows her to look for permanent damage. Pete asks again what happened. Brenda again gives the brief response. His mind seems like a skipping record.

Pete [thinking]: MMm, this is nice. She smells nice. I'm cold... my head.... are those boobs?

Brenda: "Pete, I think you have a concussion. Try not to think too much."

Brenda realizes that she's cold too. Of course... both her and Pete are soaked to the bone from having been out in that drizzle during the whole attack. She shivers as they pull up to the lobby at the Palace hotel. Rich helped her and Pete to the elevator, where Brenda's personal key allows them access to her floor. In the elevator, the cheesy music presses in on Brenda. Pete is only barely conscious, most of this is happening without his awareness. Brenda decides to risk outing herself to help the only guy who came running to help her. Well, not counting the Silver Swan.

Brenda: "Thanks for your help. I'll have room service send up some food for us..... and..... I have a guest room, Rich. I insist you stay."