Toons of Theresa

"Save one life, you save the world." - Torah

A light breeze flows from outside the Haven, sweeping through the hallways and rooms, whispers can be heard carrying different feminine voices and a familiar scent and fog begins to rise; creeping slowly across the parking lots and streets blanketing the surfaces in its cool embrace. Whispers in different voices, as if a conversation was taking place in a language few can understand, floats in the air slowly growing louder. Meri walks out of the mist and materializes in the foyer dressed in a ritual outfit of red and gold and wearing a menat, or large medallion, over her chest as the cool fog follows. She whispers but is clearly heard through out the foyer, “Come, it is time.”

Tiphareth nods to her as Muse moves to Meri’s side and Marcus stands with his emotionless expression. Tonight they were going to attempt something that had never been done successfully before; try to bring Alex back from the influence of the Qlippoth. The problem was they were going to have to use Gale as bait, something everyone was uneasy with at best.

Tiphareth looks to each present before asking, “Muse would you go up stairs and tell Gale it is time?”

The small muse looks back with emerald eyes and then to Meri, “What about James do we allow him to come with us?” She then looks to Tiphareth, “If we do not let young James come with us... he will never forgive us or trust us again.”

Tiphareth looks to Marcus and Meri for their thoughts on this. James was having problems with the plan and was dead set against it and his condition made him an unpredictable element. “What love would be complete without both hearts?” Meri responded as she looked to everyone smiling. “Were it be the one you love, I would ask you all the same question and not be surprised by the one answer.”

Marcus’s face though is plain he is not in agreement but he keeps his words to himself as Muse runs upstairs to fetch the two from the practice room, stopping as she watches Gale lead James through a slow kata. “Gale, James… it’s time.”

Gale stops and looks at Muse, biting her bottom lip and trying to keep her fear in check, “Now?” and takes hold of James’ arm, standing up against him. James smiles to her, being brave for her; then looks at Muse, “Both of us?” and Muse nods in affirmation. Once more, he looks to Gale and places his hand over hers. “Let’s get this over with and be happy for the rest of our lives ok?” and Gale nods trying to smile just as bravely back to him.

“Gale, before we go downstairs…” Muse steps forward reaching in to her pocket, “…would you please do me one more small favor?” Gale tells her of course and Muse brings out a necklace with a small green gem. “Please wear this tonight for me.” "What is it?" Gale asks cryptically the muse replies "A bit of a fail safe dear just put it on and do not worry love" she smiles as Gale places it over her head Muse's eyes dim slightly as the gem comes to life against Gale's skin. “Come now, they are waiting.” She states with a reassuring smile and the three head down stairs as James whispers to her teasing, “Hell I want a necklace now.” Then he feels her slipping something into his hand, “Then safe guard this for me.” she whispers back as he looks in his hand and sees her wedding band then closes his hand once more about it, knowing that no matter what he would see her wear it again.

Meri quickly explains that they will return to the alley where Alex attacked Gale and Gale can feel her stomach lurch in protest at having to revisit that place. Then Meri’s eyes become soft, far and staring off as if seeing past the walls of the Haven as she begins to chant. The fog becomes thicker as a gentle breeze causes it to dance in swirls and arcs about the six of them.

“Wepwawet, Opener of the Way,
Bless your coming and going.
Open the way for me and those I love,
And close the way for those
Who would seek to do us harm”

Violet light and then time and space seem to part as a portal opens. “Come.” Meri states and then steps through, followed by Muse, Gale and James. Tiphareth lets the illusion drop and now stands naked with wings and stops Marcus with a gentle hand and a single word, “Remember.” He nods understanding from their previous conversion that should the three of them, Meri, Muse and herself fail he must be the one to destroy Alex. She then steps through followed my Marcus and the portal snaps shut.

Gale gasps and hangs tight to James as they stand now in the alley that only a few nights ago Alex attacked her, tortured her in such ways that now she shook in fear. The alley is coated with a thick mist and the ground can’t be clearly seen. It is unusually peaceful and quiet, no ambient sounds save the burning of colored coals in five braziers of red, blue, green, purple and yellow, formed into a pentagram in the center of the alley.

Meri steps forward and turns to address them. “I must tell you of the ritual that I have created. Within the circle, we will sit, and must not leave until the ritual is complete. We will be Gale's strength in the darkness and her path from it if need be. Gale, you will hear me speak but will not see me. I will be using all my power to drain Alex. We will have but mere minutes, which at that time, Tiphareth must keep the darkness from the circle. When Alex is weakened, Muse my dear, you must find his heart, his soul and bring him back to us. You will know the time Muse. The Jeweled Spiders are here but hidden, they cannot be seen until the time is right.”

“Now, one other thing that must be discussed; Alex will try to summon help if he feels threatened they will only be spawn of the Qlippoth, but they are still a threat.” She looks to Marcus and James, “They must not be allowed to interrupt the ritual.”

James is feeling the spark come alive in him as he looks from Meri to Gale. He has never seen her so frighten before, he was not even sure if before the attack by Alex he ever saw her frightened. She was also so strong even when she was weak but now she needed him and something inside him responded as he felt a fire kindle from deep inside. “Marcus and I will take care of that.” his voice was confident and determined.

Marcus looked to the young man next to him and then to Meri. “We will.” He answers as his hand thumbs the amulet in his pocket then his sight catches Tiphareth’s as she says to him, “Remember Marcus, judgment.” He nods to her, “I remember.” and she smiles to him and there is love in her eyes that seems to wash a sensation of warmth over him.

Meri walks up to James and places her hand on the young man’s shoulder, “To feel what you do so strongly again, my life I would give.” The young man looks back to her, “I'm sorry about yesterday... I was angry and…” She interrupts him with a gentle squeeze of his shoulder and warm smile on her face as she nods she understands.

Meri then walks to Gale and moves her to the center of the pentagram. Then places each person in front of a brazier, just inside the pentagram as well, directing them to sit on the cushion already placed there. She then sits and is about to begin chanting when Gale calls out, “Wait!”

Gale then runs over to James and kisses him long and hard, hanging tight to him and he falls into the kiss lifting her off her feets. Slowly she breaks the kiss and looks into his eyes. “No matter what Nix... you remember, remember it is you I love most... you be here for me, got it baka?” He smiles to her, “Ain't leaving babe unless you beat me with a stick!” he puts her down and she moves back to the center and mouths the words ’I love you’ to him. He stands taller, and tells her he loves her too, with pride and determination on his face.

Meri smiles to Gale then bows her head her voice clear and strong yet soft as she chants.

“Lady of the Burning Sands, Sekhmet, Mistress of Terror,
May no enemy find us,
May no harm approach us,
Your sacred fire surrounds us,
No evil can withstand Your Eye”

Flames begin to encircle everyone, blending in colors as they merge into a larger circle of multi-colored flame. Meri then stretches her neck and waits a moment then begins chanting in the ancient tongue of the land of Kemet as Gale stands in the center looking like a frightened doe. The lights in the alley darken and a thickness in the air begins to form as Tiphareth whispers, “He comes.”

“Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing true or beautiful makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love.” - Reinhold Niebuhr

Everyone’s vision within the circle becomes a little bit dim, as if a candle were dimming except for Marcus his ‘sight’ is aware and sees all within their surroundings. The flames of the braziers still burn but the light cast from them diminishes greatly as Gale is shaking and trying to maintain, she can be heard whispering “Kori-moma protect me, help me be strong.” Then she notices the feather that hangs from her left ear, the one James had pulled from his own head and given her grows warms and she can hear his voice, ’I love you.

Then the mist surrounding everyone stops, and time become still. Gale tensely calls out “A... Alex?” Perception seems to warp and shift as if in a pitch-black room while voices can be heard… and breathing… and a heartbeat. Gale clenches her fists to her side as the odor of rot, decay and putrefaction cloys in her breath, choking her with nausea. Footsteps can be heard along with the sound of the pavement cracking under each step coming closer and closer then pauses.

All that is seen is gale looking about, he can feel her fear, feel her terror and how she wants to bolt and run and a smile of malicious intent forms on his lips. Meri’s spell is working, they, the circle, the braziers are all hidden from his sight; there is only Gale and her fear that entices him to step forward. She swallows and tries to keep her eyes open, “Al... Alex... I know that’s... yo… you.”

He now stands before her his hand moving towards her face, then he realizes she is not seeing him, something is wrong. “NOW Tiphareth!” Meri cries and begins to chant as the five violet jeweled spiders begin to glow brightly and the illusion that masked the trap falls. Tiphareth leaps in the air and hovers a few feet from the ground as she erupts in white flames calling out, “SHEMA!” as she illuminates the area with arms and wings outstretched.

Alex materializes in the center of the circle next to Gale, his eyes blackened and his skin mottled and dark as Muse watches and waits for the moment as those she loves play their roles. Nix can feel his chest growing hot; he wants to leap forward an attack and burn the monster next to Gale, punish him with flame for what he had done to his Gale. Only the presence of Marcus next to him keeps him from giving in and doing so. The jeweled spiders have now formed a crystalline web encompassing the circle and all inside as the trap is now sealed.

Gale places one foot back and stops hers self, “I am here Alex.” His response is to laugh with bemusement as he covers his eyes from the brilliant light as he asks, “What is this?”

She shakes but pushes the words from her lips, “You wanted me... I am here.” Alex’s voice cracking and deep, “Ah… such a gathering can only mean…” then he spots James and laughs, “I see!” then he raises his hands and darkness begins to seep up from the cracks in the ground and rises to knee level.

“Nothing Alex...” Gale calls out, “…you wanted me. I... I am here...” then looking at him, “for you.” But he is not listening as his black eyes look up and sees her, the white flames and darkness seem to be battling each other as they are swirling, merging and separating as if for dominance. “Tiphareth!” he hisses and throws his arm out as a bolt of darkness fires at her. Tiphareth smiles to Alex as the bolt is consumed in the flames that cover her. “Yes Alex but not the same as last time.” He screams at her and raises both hands come up and he stretches his fingers out, as tendrils of darkness shoot out towards Tiph, trying to diminish the light and Tiphareth sings out loud as the fire and light intensifies. Meri is up on her feet now ad lifts her arms and chants loudly as a stream of violet energy emanates from her and strikes Alex and he now feels pain and cries out in anger.

“Alex!” Gale seeing him hurt instinctively moves to him and he turns his face to her. “YOU LIED TO ME AGAIN!” and begins to chant as he continues his assault on Tiphareth and endures Meri’s attack. “NO... I didn't” she yells back, “I am here for YOU!”

He sneers as he chants and the words are harsh and guttural as if they were never meant for human throat and tongue. Then finishing he cries out, “Come my friends, into the light and spread the darkness that is His way!” His head snaps back facing Gale and his words drip spite and rage, “Now you will see what I am capable of!” and now Tiphareth is putting her all into song and light and flame to keep his assault at bay.

Then a horrific scream and rending fills everyone’s ears as two dark entities enter; clawing and pulling their way from the void. Tentacled masses with red beaks and a thousand eyes enter the circle one wraps itself about Meri’s throat and she is lifted from the ground choking as another approaches Muse.

Marcus taps James on the shoulder and speaks but one word, “Now.” James erupts in fire and spews from his eyes, mouth and then from the entirety of his body at the creature holding Meri as he screams, “EAT PHOENIX FLAME UGLY PIECE OF DARK SHIT!” The spawn screams and drops Meri and turns projecting tentacles towards James and Marcus. While Tiphareth struggling to keep the darkness at bay and protect herself from Alex’s assault is slowly being wrapped in Alex’s attack.

“I did not lie!” Gale yells at him, I am scared to death but I still came... FOR YOU! Alex stop this, stop this now.” her hands reach out and take his arm, “Leave them be please and I... I will go with you.” Her voice now soft and her eyes looking at him in honesty, “I will Alex, just leave them, please.”

Alex looks to Gale a moment and pauses his assault on Tiphareth just as the darkness was about to cover her mouth.

Marcus is covered in a cloud of dark purple as the spawn tentacles approach and then suddenly stands nine feet in height and spreads dark wings. No longer Marcus the man but an avatar, “II AAM GGEVURAH!” He raises a sword of flame and charges through the oncoming tentacles. “TTHIS IIS MMY JJUDGEMENT!” he cries as his sword cleaves deep into the spawn sending black ichor spewing while the other spawn falls on Muse then screams in frustration, as she is no longer there and whips about seeking its prey.

Gale stands up straighter; her fear outweighed by what she feels as she looks at Alex. “Alex.. let them live.” Meri begins her chant again sending the stream of purple energy back out at Alex and he falls to his knees dropping his attack against Tiphareth. Gale falls with him and holding him by the shoulders still facing him and his eyes regain a moment of his normal color. “Alex... remember... remember the good... remember this...” and she pulls him into an embrace and kisses him full on the mouth.

“Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses.” - Amy Tan

“MUSE!” Meri cries, “NOW MUSE, NOW!” and the small muse in now kneeling next to both Gale and Alex following Gale's movements and wraps her arms around Alex tightly love and light flowing through the contact almost as if she might be a purple sun. “Child of our hearts return to us we know your pain give us back the Alex we love! Hide no longer in your pain and fear!” Alex is shocked by Muse’s touch and begins to regain his natural color as Gale still holds him in a kiss.

James sees and his eyes go wide as the fire falls from him, “The fuck? …the hell she kissing him for?” not seeing the danger as the wounded spawn lashes out with a claw. Marcus’s blade flashes and the clawed arm now lies on the ground. The spawn turns its attention back to Marcus and begins to wrap its self about the arm that now digs clawed fingers into its putrid flesh and lifts it from the ground. Then he plunges forth his sword into the blasphemous creature following the sword till his arm extends out its back. It then turns to cinder and ash then falls away.

Tiphareth, now free of Alex’s attack, is able to, once more, concentrate on pushing back the darkness when she sees the second spawn send forth a tentacle at Meri, its tip hardened like a spear. With out though she extends a wing interceding and taking the blow as it pierces her wing but preventing what could have been a fatal blow. She falls the few feet and back to the ground; crying out “THIS IS THE SONG OF SONGS HEAR AND KNOW ITS TRUTH!” and she shines now as a brilliant star.

Muse pours forth from the very heart of a muse washing Alex in love and acceptance seeking his very heart and soul, bathing them in love and light cradling him and Gale in her arms lovingly. Meri now joins in with a chant changing the stream of energy into Alex as she does.

“Hethert, Lady of the Beautiful West,
Receive Alex in the field of Reeds,
Comfort him with your turquoise tears,
Renew him in your golden arms,
May he live a million years, in the radiance of your love.”

And Gale whispers now in his ear, “Please come back.”

The remaining spawn looks to its master and turns its attention on Marcus then charges him with several spear-like tentacles. Marcus sets his stance for the onslaught his voice booming, “CCOME AAND BBE JJUDGE!” Tiphareth sees spreads her wings once more and flames leap out towards the tentacles aimed at Marcus a couple of the tentacles are blocked by her intervention, the remainder fly true to Marcus. Half the tentacles make it through his wings and sword defense as darken blood pours from him. He still stands however and defiantly growls, “FFEEBLE PPEST!” Then lifts the fire sword high and brings it down swift, cleaving fire in its wake and splitting the spawn in two and like the first it then disintegrates into fire and ash.

“Let go Alex, let go of your pain hold life once again be our Alex.” Muse murmurs holding him close but weakening from pouring out of her love. Alex’s face changed back and forth from the despoiled to normal as Gale continues to hold him tight, “Come back you don’t have to be scared any more, come back... please.”

“I…” and Alex looks around to everyone, “I didn’t want… this.” Then he looks at Gale, “It hurts so badly.” and she sees his broken heart. “I know... I know Alex but it doesn't have to... we can get through it.” Then he screams “IT HURTS!” and his voice echoes.

Meri falls to her hands and knees perspiring but still maintaining the magical stream as Muse whispers in Alex’s ear, “Alex, child come back to your true home please let go of the burden of pain give it to me let your heart be free again.” Even James trying to be someone people can count on lets go of jealousy for a heartbeat, “C'MON MAN! COME BACK!” as tears pour down his face not sure what hurts more right now the pain he feels for Alex or the pain at seeing the girl he loves holding him.

“Pain has a limit Alex, find it, use me if you must but find it and there will be no more pain.” Her hands go to his face and softly cradle’s his cheeks, “I came for you Alex... you are worth it.”

The alleyway grows dim, drowning out even Tiphareth’s light as Alex begins to speak and shake his head. “Master, I… don't know… I’m so weak.” and the ground begins to become a blackening void and his skin changes back and forth as if internally a great struggle was taking place. Gale pulls his face towards her again, “No Alex you aren't weak, you don’t need it… it needs YOU!”

Marcus stared to approach, the spawns were dead but one last thing remained as he lifted his sword; Alex must… then a blast of concussive force emanates from the void and everyone is cast to the ground from the force barely moments before Marcus could enact judgment on the boy.

Gale scrambles back towards Alex when a six-foot wide hole opens in the ground and a massive tentacle reaches up and grabs Gale from around the throat and chest, its size so massive it barely fits through the six foot wide hole in the ground and begins to pull her back and Alex falls over unconscious.

James lifts his head and sees and the fire is back and rages, Gale was in danger, “No, no, no, no, no, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” and his body erupts in flames as he gets to his feet and starts to run towards Gale as she reaches out an arm towards him. A maw opens at the base of the tentacle and snaps then another blast lifts everyone from the ground and knocks those trying to stand back down.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao-Tzu

Muse watching Gale and remembering her promise to Betty, closes her eyes knowing this could be her final act she whispers a word and the necklace about Gale’s throat shatters. Where once Gale was held captive, it is now Muse allowing her self to be pulled into the night knowing Gale is safe at Alex's side where once she was laying on the ground. Then a stream of black liquid spills from a seam that opens in the tentacle and a darkened blade slices through the thickness of the beastly arm and Muse’s body rolls free.

Silent Strike stands up from behind the void hole, Blade of Night in hand drips with the blood of the beast as costumed red eyes looks to Gale. Phoenix fire erupts from James and he flies to Gale and snatches her in a protective embrace as his fire envelops them both. Gale hangs tight to James and she clings with her whole being as her face, in shock looks up towards the crimson Silent Strike and her mouth barely is able to form the words, “momma?”

Meri stand and blasts the portal with a gigantic tower of violet energy. “Help me seal the void!” she cries and though weakened, Muse crawls her way to her and lends the last of her being to add to Meri’s strength. Tiphareth comes to her feet and begins to intone, “In the beginning there was the word.” Then she starts to utter the word, the word that begane creation, the secret utterance of the Tetragrammaton and light shines out whiter than white and begins to push back the void just it did in the beginning of creation.

She then reaches a hand out to Marcus, and he takes it as something in him knows what he must do. Meri begins to change. Her eyes narrow and redden, clawed hands, face of a lioness as her stature grows to nearly seven feet tall. She raises her hands to the sky and continues to chant as the darkness in the void fights to come out. She speaks in a deeper voice, ancient Egyptian flows from her lips as a glowing disk appears above her head beaming light into the void.

Silent Strike stands and begins to weave her fingers through a sutra, a sutra Gale knows, that is the legacy of the Arasaka shinobi. Each position of fingers glows in a different color and Gale moves to her knees and begins to weave with her mother trying to lend what she can as well.

James kisses Gale on the cheek and then stands then opening his throat he screams a Phoenix cry and fire, both terrible and beautiful, streams forth at the void into its darkness.

The light from Tiphareth is everywhere expanding at an incredible rate and Marcus now begins to use the darkness of Geburrah to shape it, contract it and give it form. Gale has now risen to her feet and stands opposite of Silent Strike; they mirror each other as both now intone a low bass chant that comes from deep in the back of the throat similar to that heard in the chants of Buddhist monks and even Gales hands are now faintly glowing.

Muse rolls weakly to Alex, the boy lying so still and barely breathing. Never one to hold back with those she loves, her hand rests on the young man's face. The very color of her skin pouring into the young man as she gives him the last of her very being. He shuffles as life slowly comes back into him even as her light dims and her body drains of all color.

The light from Tiphareth is now hurtling towards the disk above Meri’s head, formed by Marcus in the shape of children running and it strikes the disk. Meri directs the light into the void, blasting the ground around it, sending the blinding light deep into it as a horrible scream and unearthly sound echoes from the shining darkness. The blast sends everyone through the air and Meri through one of the brick walls.

Tiphareth and Marcus are sent back and out into the street and into cars that were parked on the opposite of the road. Silent Strike is sent through the alley into the opposite street, hitting a street lamp and then into an empty parked buss. Gale and James are sent skyward and James for a moment can feel himself fly then sees Gale falling and hurdles himself downward embracing her and rolling so that he is in-between her and the ground and flames causing the air to help cushion their fall which is still extremely hard.

Muse and Alex, having been laying on the ground, though are hardly moved but covered with debris and garbage as the wall Meri was thrown in collapses. Then there is silence, quiet as the fog lifts, the light from the city again penetrates the alleyway, ambient noise returns, and a sense of peace.

"If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child." - Linda Sunshine

Gale rolls off James and immediately checks him; he is breathing and not bleeding and she doesn’t feel any broken bones but he is unconscious. Then she looks about and not seeing her cries out, “MOMMA!” She staggers to her feet and makes her way down the alley and past the now bent street light and sees the bus that is now overturned. Moving as fast as she can on unsteady feet she crawls into the bus and sees her laying there. “KORI-MAMA!” and crawls her way over the seats to her and wedges her self so that Silent Strike’s head is in her lap. She can feel her, she is real and she begins to weep as her mother breaths slowly and deeply.

Tiphareth reaches over and feels Marcus next to her, he is once more the immortal man and not the avatar and he rolls his face towards her. “I hope we passed the audition.” he tries a joke and chuckles and Tiphareth gives him a smile and then gets up and heads to the others. She sees Muse laying there and so still and her heart leaps as she quickly moves to the small muse and kneels pulling her into her arms, sending love and healing into her so still and colorless body. Then looking about she sees her sister’s hand from beneath the rubble.

“MARCUS COME QUICK!” and she makes her way with Muse in her arms to the pile of rumble. Marcus comes and she points and he begins to throw the bricks and debris off; uncovering Meri as she lays there with a piece of rebar driven all the way through her side. She then coughs and spits up blood. Tiphareth falls next her and with Muse in her arms and Meri beside her, begins to send everything she has into both of them while telling Marcus to see to the others.

“Need a han'?” and Marcus looks up to see a well dressed man standing there and gives him a curt nod and instructs him on what to do. Soon red and blue flashing lights and sirens can be seen, and heard, in the distance. With Tiphareth’s hand over Meri’s heart Marcus kneels on her opposite side and pulls the rebar from her side and begins to tear pieces of her rob and use them to stanch the bleeding.

“What’s your name?” Marcus commands of the man seeing to Nix and Alex as he bandages Meri. “Etienne at ye service.” He replies, “and then forms a runic circle about his feet as she goes over both of the unconscious boys.

Police and ambulance with a fire truck pull up on both street on either side of the ally as an air transport lands just outside the alley and UNTIL agents pour out, medical gear and other equipment being dragged along. Then Lieutenant Westwood runs up, “Jesus! What happened?”

Tiphareth smiles to her truly glad to see her, “Gen, there are two young men over there see to them and there are two in the over turned bus. Muse and my sister here also are in need of medical attention as well. Lieutenant Westwood, Gen, stands and barks orders and several UNTIL agents run out towards the bus while other come an start checking out James, Alex, Muse and Meri.

Over head a helicopter is heard and looking up can be seen to be a WCOC new helicopter. Etienne looks up, shielding his eyes from their light, “Heh, dey don needta see dis.” Tiphareth stands and looks up as well. “No, they don’t.” then closes her eyes and send a wave of compassion up and into the passengers of the helicopter and watches as it turns and heads away then smiles to Etienne how seems to have now noticed she is nude and has wings.

“Well, well, well… lookey what we have here.” Tiphareth turns to look to see a man in a beaten over coat walking callously down the alleyway. He flips out a badge, “Names Lieutenant Dan, MCPD.” as he sees Tiphareth approach “Oooo pretty wings.” He leers then looks around before settling his eye back on Tiphareth in a leer. I’ll have fun investigating this.” She does knows of him, what he has put Gale through and can feel his intentions. “Normally I would show you compassion in such a situation.” She flatly states and then hauls off and clocks him across the jaw knocking him out and to the ground. “But then this is not normal.” she smiles and turns to se Marcus grinning at her. “What?”

Lieutenant Westwood, comes up, “Tiphareth, both boys are stable, though the smaller one is busted up pretty good with some broken bones and head trauma.” Then from behind them they hear, “Jesus get me a defibrillation kit! This one has no pulse!” and Lieutenant Westwood runs over to where some medics are working on Muse and takes over and attaches the pads to Muse and sets the charge. “Jesus, hold on please. hold on!”

“She ain’t human cher” Etienne states as Lieutenant Westwood hits the defibrillator’s button and Muse’s body jerks. Lieutenant Westwood checks her vitals and begins CPR. “I mean you ain’t be gonna finding any on her, cher.” Etienne stats and gently stops the lieutenant, “She jus be need’n er rest.” and nods with a smile to her, “Trust meh.” The lieutenant then looks up to Tiphareth who also smiles and nods to her. As if on cue Muse takes a slow breath and the lieutenant calls out “Get me a stretcher!” then looks to the Tiphareth, “The Haven’s infirmary is closest we should get them there.” Tiphareth smiles while laying her hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder, “Then please do, Gen.” and the lieutenant feels herself become calm and peaceful and smiles back. Then she stands and begins to issues orders for evacuation. Then looks down at lieutenant Dan, “And get this piece of shit out of my AO now!”

The police, Fire department and EMTs are in a parameter and letting UNTIL handle the situation, ready to lend a hand while also keeping back the curious onlookers that have began to arrive.

A team of UNTIL agents has lifted Silent Strike’s body from the bus and is carrying her towards the air lift with Gale limping behind her. She stops them just short of being placed in the airlift and hugs Gale, careful of her sore ribs. Is about to say ‘Kori-mama’ then stops herself not wanting to give away her mother’s identity. “I want to go with you!” She whispers in her daughter’s ear, “We will talk about this after, ok?” and Gale looks at her with tears, “Honto?” she asks and the crimson clad woman nods and replies, “Honto.” Then pulling her daughter close again whispers, “I’m proud of you.” and the tears fall from Gale’s eyes. Once more she whispers, “Akemi, find the blade.” Gale steps back nodding and bowing, “Hai.” and once her mother has been taken aboard turns and makes her way back to the alley.

Lieutenant Westwood has just come back from seeing Alex and Muse loaded onto the airlift and is directing UNTIL agents and giving orders Tiphareth kneels by Meri’s side. “Sister, can you hear me?” she asks smiling to Meri and taking her hand. “You did it Meri... he is Alex once more. Meri takes a deep breath, her eyes still closed, “I need a vacation.” Tiphareth’s laugh can be heard and for a moment, everyone pauses hearing the clear heartfelt laughter. “Sister I swear, I do believe at times you enjoy making me worry.”