Resting Suite -- 7th Floor -- Tower of Illusion -- Niflheim

	Congrats! You're halfway there. And yet again, you find yourselves in 
familar ground. A very large suit devoted to the family, having 4 bedrooms 
from the central room. Furniture reaches all throughout the room. The area is 
tastefully decorated in reproductions of French artwork. There is plenty of 
room to move about, and windows overlooking Knightsbridge, London. There's no 
doorway where the door would have been to lead to the Second Floor of the 
Chateau Cartier, instead there's just a solid plain wall. Any attempts to open 
the windows will find nothing but solid matter. The windows do not really 
overlook anything. They just -look- like they do. There are actually four 
bedrooms though. This is a room set aside for resting. Isn't Lishka nice, 
giving you all a place to sleep comfortably?

	
Sam lays on one of the beds, legs sprawled out and hands behinf head. His eyes 
are closed, clothes covered in all sorts of muck and stais. This is something 
he really needed, some good /rest/. He stays quiet for now, enjoying the few 
precious moments he has.

Coming out of the shadows of one of the private resting rooms, zipping up his 
jacket, comes Jono, glancing around, to see what is going on. Boots click on 
the floor as he moves outwards.

And where's the lil' Paffer? The one who arguably has the most emotion 
invested in this little indevor? Where she's been for the past three hours - 
pacing the suite. Sleep didn't come easy, and didn't stick around long 
(espically since she's in a semi-fancy dress! You have no idea the number of 
wires that poke her no matter what position she takes, and considering that 
pervo-Lishka is prolly watching them, no way in HELL she'll take it off!). So 
Jubilee walks up and down the hall slowly, passing doors, casting glances left 
and right, waiting for the next demon to pop out of the wood work. "When I get 
my hands on that wench.." she mutters to herself.

Terry comes out of her door, she pauses to rewrap the bandage on her arm. Her 
color still more than touch off, at least she's standing straight up.

	*CRACKLE* The sound of electricity whirls into the area. At first 
someone might think it was Will doing somemore of his Surgeing, but nope, this 
isn't caused by Will. The ceiling near where the door out of the Suite would 
have been in the real world starts to... shimmer with energy... lightning. 
Forming a square in the ceiling. Um. This is new. The crackling continues for 
a few seconds, then something... falls out of the square and hits the ground 
near the door. A... phone booth? Alright, who here watched Bill an Ted's 
Excellent Adventure one too many times? It still has little bolts of 
electricity running over the frame, lacing it delicately. But over all, it 
looks like an every-day, American phonebooth. Like something stolen half off 
of those who remember 'Bill and Ted's' and half off those here who've actually 
seen a real phonebooth. Now, there is one thing off. It's bigger then the 
average booth. It could hold say... five or six people and still be able to 
close the door. Now, it won't hold those five or six comfortably, but -still-. 
Lishka sure is running out of stair way ideas, wouldn't you say?

Sam jerks up from the bed violently as the electricity stunt begins. "Guys?" 
He calls out over the crackle of power, calling them bnear with a hand 
gesture. yes, Sammy has seen the movie and just has the feeling that they all 
have to get in. Daaaaamn. Slipping off the side of the bed, Sam stands with a 
strain, slowly approaching the booth and saying idly to Gwen, "Get Jube's in 
heah, will ya Gwen?" he wants everyone present, hoping to stay all in one 
group.

As the booth lands, Jono ducks back into the room he came from for several 
moments, reappearing with a sleep and grumpy, albiet well Paige.

EEEK! This is SO not cool, dudes and dudettes! Jubilee /jumps/ back as the 
phone booth appears, then blinks her almond shaped eyes furiously a few times 
and starts to step cautiously towards it.. "Um.. If this thing takes us back 
to the middle-ages, I will be, like, /so/ upset." A tenitive hand is reached 
out so Jube can grip onto the side of the door, and if nothing bad happens 
upon doing that, she pulls it open and looks inside to see if there's a phone 
book.

"Great... I always did ha' a sick thin' fer Keanu Reeves," Terry sighs, "I 
guess Lishka is sayin' its time t' move on."

Gwen Namura says, "Keanu Reeves sucks! He'll never make a good movie again!" 
She dives in and tickles JubJub.

	Welp, it doesn't even seem hot or staticy or anything. Just a normal 
phonebooth waiting to be opened. This is definatly the ticket to the next 
floor. At least Lishka gave you all a few hours to rest before throwing this 
at you. She still isn't sure how in the name of Loki you all got out of the 
Library so fast, but she isn't gonna bother asking. Someone must have got 
lucky and picked up the book titled _The Way Out_ first. Usually everyone 
wastes their time buffing up of Niflheim and runes and never make it out of 
that room. When she fines out Teiman interfered... Well, let's just say she 
won't be a happy ice bitch. The door to the booth opens easily and there is a 
phonebook, and a phone. Shock of shocks.

"Guys! Woah, will ya slow dahn? Ah don't want ta rush this, ya 'ave nah idea 
what could happen..." Sam says sternly, cautiously peering into the booth and 
scanning it. Yes, he knows exactly that this is there ticket to the next room, 
meaning this resting area is gone. He doesn't want to leave here! It just 
means more hell is waiting for them! Oh well, time to be leader, Sammy. "C'mon 
guys, quick...." He trails off with a sigh, picking up the phone and checking 
for a dialtone. "Jube's, anythin' in the phonebook? What city s'it from?"

Following Sam's directions, and drawn along by Paige, comes Jono, rather 
reluctant. The metamorph isn't enthusiastic to leave, and neither is Jono, but 
they both want to be out of there, quick-like.

Jubilee rolls her eyes as she hefts the phonebook, then looks to Sam. "Man, 
Sam, have you learned /nothin'/ from this place? You're thinking too logicly! 
Didn't the little light show tip ya off? Bill and Ted's Excelent Adventure! I 
saw it like a /million/ times over when it came out! The phone book ain't for 
a /city/, it's for time and space! Or in this case, prolly just the tower. 
Duuh." She opens the book and starts to flip through the pages.. "Lemme 
think... We're on, like.. the 7th floor now? Lets see if they got an eighth 
floor number.. or maybe higher!" Yeah, maybe they can actually /skip ahead/ a 
little! However, as Jube finds all those blank pages in the book, a frown 
starts to deepen on her lips.. Until "Okay, here's somethin'! 184-4224." She 
points at the number, circled in dark red. .. kinda reminds ya of blood, don't 
it Jubie. Eww. "Dial. But close the door first."

"I ain't exactly rushin' abou' y' na... its only been a few hours since m' 
blood donation," Terry pushes a hand through her hair, "Time t' g' though.."

Gwen Namura says "Uh..."
Gwen Namura says "Dial, Jubey."

Sam presses up against the wall, next to the phone as everyone crams into the 
booth. The bed was much nicer, much nicer. "Why? What will that do, girl?" He 
really has no idea what those numbers will do, but when he thinks back to 
/all/ the stuff they have pulled through so far, he doesn't gibe one hoot. 
*Clink* *Clink*...Sam begins to dial the number that was just called out, 
pressing the phone to his ear and awaiting a ring or something. Those blue 
eyes flicker over to the rest of the team, looking down at Gwen and saying, 
"Keep yoah powah's handy with the door, make sure it don't fly open n' we fall 
out when we go teleportin'." He's seen the movie, assuming they will all be 
sent down some sort of wormhole at warp speed. Bleah.

Crowding with the rest are Jono and Paige, waiting patiently to get the hell 
out of here. Jono presses against the wall opposite Sam, and Paige presses 
against him, one of Jono's arms slipping around Paige's waist protectively.

Jubilee squeezes herself into a nice little corner and clutches the phonebook, 
ready to hurl it at the first pervert who cops a feel in these close 
quarters.. Needless to say, Jube's eyeing Gwen in a 'hands off, bub' manner. 
Hey, she still ain't too sure about that girl! Mwahaha. "C'mon c'mon, just 
dial. And keep that door closed! I don't wanna be flyin' outta here."

Terry squeezes herself in a corner, she mutters to Sam, "Ken y' scootch over 
jes a tad. Ha' y' gained weight 'r somethin'"

Gwen Namura looks at Sam. "Uhm... My powers aren't entirely reliable right 
now. Like... Just hang on."

	Not entirely reliable? Now you tell him??? Too late. *RIIIIIINNNNNG* 
goes the phone in Sam's ear. Then... the lightning returns. Keep your tray 
tables in their locked and upright position, because the ride is about to 
begin! Zip! Buzz! Snap! Crackle! Pop! Harhar. Welp, this... wormhole is a miz 
between the one in the movie the booth is taken from, and the really wacked 
Sliders wormhole. No flips, no twists, just travelling straight up, -really- 
fast. Hope no one here has a weak stomach. Lurch! Then the phonebooth comes to 
a sudden halt and... bam. You're wherever the numbers have lead you. Oddly 
though, the glass in the phonebooth is highly fogged over. Alright, who was 
breathing heavy during the trip? Well, likely no one. Lishka just wants to ... 
prolonge the torture a little. What could be through that door? Ice monsters? 
Lishka herself? Somemore nightmares? Only one way to find out, don't'cha know.


Phonebooth -- Tower of Illusion -- Niflheim

	You find yourself in a New York city phone booth. The rectangular shape, 
sitting on one of the smaller ends seems a little bigger then the normal 
phonebooths sitting around. There's a pay phone and a phonebook against one 
side, but there doesn't seem to be any cords running outside the booth so it's 
unlikely that it works. But then perhaps it's not for calling. Four people 
could stand in here without any cramping and close the door. At most, six 
people could fit, but there would be much discomfort.


"Sweet Jezus!!" Sam yells out as his insides are turned into knots, 
threatening to expose themselves to his closest friends. He holds on for dear 
life, clutching at everyone and everything! Kinky, no? A pervert's playground. 
Once it stops, his head begins to turn and stomach stays in its awkward state. 
"S-Stay....heah.....foah....a...minute..." He mutters, resting his head on the 
wall and taking deep breaths. Hell no! He's not just waltzing out there 
without a glimpse through the window! "Check..*deep breath* what's out 
there...." There's a lesson to everything. This one? Never take Sam to a 
carnival.

Well, Jono is doing pretty fine. No stomach. Paige clenches to Jono, but 
doesn't show any signs of nausea. Jono does keep a hand against the glass to 
steady himself, turning his head slightly to try to get a look out the window.

"EEEEEEEEEK!!" comes from Jubilee's corner as the thing soars into the sky. 
Now, here's where Jube and Sam differ - if this /where/ a ride, Jube'd be 
squeeling in /delight/ and standing up straight, arms up, a grin on her lips. 
But this isn't a game - this is real. This could result in death. Death is 
baaaad. So when the horrible ride comes to an end, Jube - who is nearly 
sitting by now - breaths a heavy sigh and relief and just nods lots to Sam's 
order. Yep, stayin' here. Right here. Not moving. Nope.

Terry mutters under her breath, "Alright ken we get ou' o' here befer I faint. 
Th' lack o' blood in' m' head is makin' m' lightheaded."

Gwen Namura says "Uh-huh."

	Well, you all aren't gonna see diddly until you open the door and take a 
minor leap of faith. The glass seems fogged over on the outside, so it won't 
wipe off, and rubbing at it or anything isn't working. Lishka promised she 
wouldn't hurt you all, and so far, she hasn't. Not really at least. Sam got 
his face shreaded, but that healed, the blood loss was your own fault, or it 
would have vanished as well when you finished the room. Of course, who wants 
to trust the word of one of Lishka's kind? Very few would. Very few indead. 
Maybe you could crack the door and peek out?

Sam rubs frantically at the glass, failing miserably at seeing outside. Now, 
it would just be dreadful to tell one of his teammates to go look outside, so 
he has to do it. Squirming through the group, Sam reaches the door and 
slllloooooowwwwwllllyyyyyy opens it. "Be readah foah anythin'..." The door is 
opened just a crack, one lone blue eye filling up said crack to take a gander. 
Anybody home?

With Paige in the way, and the cramped space, Jono can't do much but wait, and 
watch.

Jubilee lifts up on hand and shifts the phonebook off to the side, between her 
and thw phonebooth's wall. The raise hand starts to glow a little at the 
fingertips, and with a flick of her index finger, Jube sends a few tiny 
sparkly orbs of light zooming over head and out the door of the booth to 
illuminate any darkness which may greet the poor leaders eyes.

Terry pushes Sam a little bit, "C'mon Country, we need t' g' ou' there s' we 
ken move on, les' g'!" She pushes again a tad harder.

	Um, Well, Sam, sometimes your eyes can play tricks on you, and sometimes 
what you see can shock you. But.. well.. About 40 feet in front of the booth 
is... A waterfall. Yes. A waterfall. Drops of water roaring down and crashing 
into the rock, spraying upward with a white mist and then vanishing into 
nothing, as if turning into rock itself. There doesn't seem to be a natural 
source of the water either, but then this is a land of illusion. Nothing is 
exactly natural. Nothing appears to be on the other side of the water. Not 
what you were expecting? And as for darkness. Nope, it's... bright in there. 
Extremely bright. No monsters seem to be around, so perhaps it's safe to step 
out. And perhaps stepping out is an extremely good idea. The buttons on the 
phone just started dialing themselves. It might take you back to the beginning 
or something. Lishka never once said she wouldn't force you all to go back if 
you hesitated. Get out while you can!

Sam's heart slows to a steady pace as no great big monster greets him outside 
the booth, just a calm and prestine waterfall. Very beautiful, actually. 
"Ohhhh...c'mon out, guys...." He says with relief, moving to escape the pushes 
from terry. The door is opened wide, allowing the bright light to stream in. 
He goes right out, looking around. The view before him distracts him enough to 
not notice the keys moving again. Get out while you can, indeed.

Jono pushes gently on Sam's shoulder as the phone starts to dial, 
(~~...uh..Sam...move...~~) he says, trying to get past the leader.

Jubilee eeps as she hears the phone dial, and quickly scampers out the door of 
the booth and into the scene before them. It helps being small, thin, and 
flexable sometimes! "Dialing! Phone booth gunna be /moving/! Everyone must be 
/exiting/ or that creepy icical wench is gunna fling us into oblivion!"

Terry jumps as well, grabbing Gwen by the wrist, "Time t' move all.."


Trianglar Room -- 8th Floor -- Tower of Illusion -- Niflheim

	As the door of the phone booth is pushed open, the roar of the elements 
at their worst fill the air. Obviously one of those impossible rooms that just 
can not be seen in the real world, and one pieced together from many memories, 
instead of just one or two. The floor and ceiling are solid rock, like a cave, 
only smooth and without formations, and the ground is oddly dry. Unnaturally 
dry. Excepially with the fact that wall the phonebooth is facing happens to be 
a waterfall.

	Yes. A waterfall. Drops of water roaring down and crashing into the rock 
and then vanishing into nothing, as if turning into rock itself. There doesn't 
seem to be a natural source of the water either, but then this is a land of 
illusion. Nothing is exactly natural. Nothing appears to be on the other side 
of the water. Amazingly, connecting at where the waterfall seems to cut off, 
two other walls form. One appears to be an icy windstorm, a gale, but it 
appears very contained. The air does not sture much where the phonebooth is, 
but the closer one gets to the wall of wind, the more one feels it. Nothing 
can be seen through the windstorm, nothing at all. The final wall, is a wall 
of fire. Roaringing, crackling, and very hot. Unlike the others, it's presense 
can be felt by the booth. And also unlike the others, something can be seen on 
the other side. An old building, with a firescape of all things.


	Snap, Crackle, Pop. Electricity surrounds the booth as soon as the last 
person steps out and in a loud whoosh it sinks into the ground, leaving a 
square of electricity in it's place that will fade after a minute. Hrm. Now 
isn't this a... peculiar place? You're not in Kansas no more, kiddo. That's 
for sure.

Sam turns around, watching everyone barreling out at top speed, realising 
their transport is about to lift off. Woo, good thing his team was on their 
toes. His eyes roam around the /entire/ room, examining every nook and cranny 
with curiosity. "Alraght...weah heah..." Now what, Sammy? Although he doesn't 
want to admit it, he just knows that their way out has something to do with 
the wall of fire. Groooooan!

Jubilee marches around to get a look at the entire room and eventually crosses 
her arms over her chest, wrinkling her nose.. "Okay.. Fire escape through the 
wall of fire.. sooooo.." She does an about-face to look over at the waterfall. 
"We gotta figure out how to get the water from there to the fire wall maybe, 
so we can get through it?"

Terry settles onto the ground lightly taking a few breaths, "I think I ken 
manipulate th' fire, b' vibratin' th' air.." It is fire it has to feed on air.

	While both are very interesting and thoughtful plans... this -is- a land 
of Illusion is it not? The fire may not be real. Niether may the water or the 
gale, or anything else in the room. Remember the sewer and how it turned into 
a blank room the instant Lishka was... distracted. - Alright, alright, Sam 
punched her and continued to do it, anyone would be distracted by a fist 
inpacting their nose. Even a icicle wench. - But, all theories can be tried. 
This room does not appear to be rushed. The walls aren't closing in or 
anything. But which one will work is up to time to reveal.

Sam just folds his arms across his chest, "Alraght, Terrah, try it. It'll be 
easier then tryin' ta get the watah ovah ta the fire..." So he waits, letting 
Terry do her thing, while looking to the rest of his team. Not a good idea, it 
just reminds him of how much he wats to get out of this hell. "Ya guys 
alraght?" He asks the general group.

Straggling somewhat behind, Paige sighs softly. She's really been pushing her 
powers to the limit on this trip.. and well, it shows. She pushes one hank of 
hair out of her eyes, and says, "Ah could probably husk internally inta watah, 
an' sorta 'hose it down', but Ah'm naht sure Ah'm up to that."

Jono has a hand on Paige's shoulder, staying by her side for support. He 
firmly puts his leather-clad boot down on that with a (~~..y'r not tryin' it, 
luv.~~). The energies within his chest, visible over the neck of his jacket, 
swirl a dark red, with yellows mixed within.

Terry stands awkwardly, she coughs for but a moment. Its clear shes not fully 
herself. Then takes in a deep breath. She has stood forward in front of the 
others so she isn't aiming at them and they won't suffer any effects from her 
blast. With another breath she starts to scream at it, determined to shut it 
down or disrupt it enough so the others can get through.

Jubilee glances over her shoulder at Paige as the girl suggests husking 
/again/, knowing that it's probably a bad idea.. But she doesn't say a word - 
Jono beat her to it. Jube, conserned for Paige's safty?... No! Hell no! She's 
doing this for /Ev/. You keep telling yourself that, Jube, and you can try to 
stay real mad at her for awhile longer. So, instead, Jube turns all attention 
back to terry and crosses her fingers. For luck, doncha know.

	Good blastin' Terry. A normal fire would be clearing a path for those to 
walk through, but this fire... obviously illusion, or magical perhaps - there 
was a rune that could make fire after all called Kenaz - because it ain't 
changing a bit. It continues to roar loudly, fill the room with that 'fire-
light' and the heat in the air is still hot enough to bother someone. In fact, 
if anyone tried to get within a few feet of the fire, they'd likely have 
blisters to remember it by. This floor isn't gonna be simple, thats for sure. 
This is just like a video game. The higher you go, the harder it gets. And 
there's always a big bad villian at the top you gotta fight.

Sam sighs as Terry's valiant attmept falls short. His blue eyes dart over 
towards the waterfall, knowing that is what they will have manipulate into 
putting the fire out for them. "Good try, terrah, don't worrah. We'll try the 
watah fall...any ideas on how ta get the watah ovah ta the fahre?" He could go 
down under it, expand his shield and force the water to spary up on the fire, 
but the water would evaporate on contact with his shield. He looks at the 
range of powers the group has, who in the hell is able to do this? Anyone got 
a bucket?

Paige sighs softly. "Not a damn thing?" She looks at Jono tiredly, and then up 
at the expanse of flame, just... a little daunted. "Oh, hell..." She murmurs, 
and then just shakes her head. "Ah *hate* mah lahfe sometimes." She just 
reminds herself that she can't fail Ev and then just goes to tear the skin at 
her wrist, bringing it up to aim at the fire wall - and hope that Jono dosen't 
do something like, well, stop her.

Jono almost does stop Paige, but his hand goes from lifting towards that 
wrist, to slipping around her waist for support, hoping she doesn't deflate

Well, that was discouraging.. But still, Jubilee's got one more kinda weird 
hair-brained idea which will probably just get her burned.. literally. "Okay.. 
this is the land of illusions, right? Sooo.. maybe this'll work." she says to 
no one in particular as she starts to walk up to the fire wall. As long as 
there are no barriers or some such to stop her, Jube goes right up to the wall 
and reaches out a hand, trying to touch the flame with her fingers and ready 
to pull back the second it starts to hurt. And yes, she stayed out of Paige's 
line of.. spray.. or whatever..

Terry coughs a little more and steps back from the fire, "damn damn damn..." 
She rakes hands through her hair, "I'm sorry.. I'm Sorry." She pauses as she 
looks about, "Ha' y' ever noticed, tha' th' ceilin' an' floor are earth, while 
the walls are air, water, an' fire..." She blinks, "S' wha' are we spirit o' 
th' fifth element? I watch t' much HBO."

	Alright, let's start with the Paige-O-Matic Hose. Well, the stuff she's 
squirting hits the flames and starts to do a little workin' on 'em, but no 
where near enough. Boy, you all are probably wishing Joliene - the walking 
fire hose - where here right about now, huh? It's gonna take a lot more then 
just Paige's efforts to get this fire out. Now, for the little Chinese gal. 
Oh, uh. Jubie, hon. All I can say is... ouch. This fire - illusion or not - 
hurts like real fire. It burns like real fire. Probably gonna have blisters 
when you pull your hand back. Of course, they could be illusion blisters, but 
they sure -feel- real. Touch is another feeling like any other. It can be 
fooled... And the blisters could be easily put there for sight.

Okay. There's.. a very wet SHRIP - and then PAige is ther.. a complete glob of 
water. And then there's a funky... noise... and there's a puddle and a wet 
Paige. And then? Well, Paige is dead-dog tired and she's had to think up alot 
of these stunts - and she's suddenly reaching out a hand to grab onto Jono's 
arms, so she dosen't topple over. "Nevah.. mahnd.."

Grabbing for his wet girlfriend, Jono steps to support Paige, (~~..tol' y'not 
t'try, luv.~~) he chides her, not sounding really mad, more concerned.

AHHHHHH!!! HOTHOTHOT!! But to Jubilee's credit, she doesn't squeel or cry out 
or do anything but flinch and pull her hand back /real/ quick, taking sveral 
steps back. So much for /that/ idea. Okay. Moving on.. She moves over towards 
the waterfall and gives it a look-over, her burnt fingers in her mouth.. and 
her eyes start to stray over to the wall of.. an ice storm.. or some such. 
"Hey Terry?" she calls, voice muffled by her fingers. "You think you could use 
your power to kinda.. direct that storm over to the fire wall?"

"Jesus Mary an' Joseph, Jubes are y' alright?" Terry glances over to the 
storm, then glances to the storm, "I ken try." She moves about again 
positioning herself between the storm and the others, clearly not going to let 
anyone get in trouble cause fo her powers. She starts to scream at the storm 
steping towards it.

	There's a small sigh from the general direction of the gale wall. Then 
someone walks out of it, seeming unbothered by the winds, or Terry's scream. 
In fact, the walls don't even seem to bother with it. She looks rather... 
bored. "Tsktsktsk. You're having an awful time figureing out this little game 
aren't you?" Yes, the supreme bitch of all bitches has come to nag at all of 
you. Somehow though, she doesn't really seem to be speaking. You all could not 
hear her over Terry's scream and the roaring fire and the howling winds and 
the crashing water if you -tried-. Instead, her voice seems to come akin to 
like how Jono's voice is heard. A mental voice. Behind her mental voice is 
almost an icy, unfeeling presense as well. But that could just be what she's 
projecting.

Paige is at the moment a little too...dazed to do much more then lean on 
Jono's arm. However, she does give the Ice Bitch a fierce glower thinking all 
sorts of nasty things abuot her - but that's all the strength she's got.

(~~..bl'dy sm'ggin' `ell..~~) Jono thinks to his group, not unlike Lishka's in 
its iciness, an ice directed towards the frost queen herself. He holds his arm 
around Paige's waist, holding her and supporting her against his side.

Jubilee joins Paige in the glower over at the fridgid bitch, pulling her 
fingers out of her mouth and for now not answering Terry. She walks straight 
up to the Popcicle Princess with a smug expression. "Ya know, you really 
should just accept the fact that, even if we don't make it through all this, 
Ev's never gunna care about the person who put the people he /really/ loves 
through this hell."

Terry whips about on her heel to face Lishka, she's stopped screaming, "YOU!" 
She manages to deliver loudly, her skin still pale her efforts definately 
draining on her.

	A small smug expression covers her face and she gives a small shrug, "Go 
ahead and talk as big as you want. But at this rate, you won't get through 
this room before the door at the top closes, and then it doesn't matter what 
you say, or what you do. Everett will be mine. And as for the rest of you... 
well... I believe someone of your world once said 'Hell is an enternity stuck 
in a room with your friends.' Perhaps that is what I will do with you when you 
lose. I have yet to decide. Your powers could be -quite- useful in my line 
of work. I could always use a small army of super-powered mortals to do my 
bidding." Then Lishka turns her golden eyes in the direction of Terry, the 
fire bounces off blue-ish and silver highlights in her snow white hair. She 
seems completely unflappable. She's obviously had a lot of time to rest since 
her last incounter with this... team of super-heros. "I was almost considering 
giving you a hint, but after that treatment, 'little Jubie' I do not think I 
will any more." She makes that tsking sound again, "You were so close too."

At least Jubilee wasn't stupid and said that Ev cared about only her - Paige 
would have been forced to hurt her. But as it is, she just... kinda leans 
there.

But then Paige is gently lowered to the ground, as Jono's attention focuses on 
the Ice Bitch, his tone unlike anything emitted from the Londoner; absolutely 
f*cking pissed off. (~~..y've k'dnapped me, m'girl, and our friends. Y'made us 
r'n thr'gh yer god damn maze, and y've run us ragged...~~) ..some more then 
others.. (~~..n'way in `ell are we g'nna be yer lap dogs!~~). Jono practically 
screams at the end, all the while unzipping his coat and baring the scarred 
chest that makes him the man he is today... cracked flesh is visible for just 
an instant before Jono lets lose with an immense blast of glowing, raging bio-
nuclear psionic energy, reds, yellows, and oranges whirling through the column 
of energy that rips through the atmosphere of the room towards Lishka. Yup, 
Jono's had enough.

"Lying bitch." Jubilee says, acting unphased by the announcement that she may 
have just ruined the teams chance at getting a little /help/ with this one. 
She was JUST about to verbally go off when Jubilee /jumps/ as Jono beats her 
to it, wirling around and looking wide-eyed at Jono. Just incase he didn't 
bother to notice Jube's standing near Lishka, Jube tries to /dive/ out of the 
way before the blast reaches Lishka - or Jube. Or atleast clips her in the 
aftermath.

Terry folds her arms across her chest, "It was th' earth, water, win', an' 
fire bit right?" She tilts her head curiously. She yelps in confusion, "Jono!"

	Erk. Seeing the psionic energies heading towards her, Lishka has little 
idea what to do. She's never faced anyone with major psionic abilities before, 
unless the Elders count. They're major psionics, but their attacks are never 
this... raw. What can she do to excape? Well, nothing. She could teleport 
away, but that would show them that Jono's psionics can be used against her to 
make her go away. She can't show that weakness. Weakness is bad. Showing it, 
is worse. Expecially to someone you're pitted against in a game for something 
that you really want to have. She closes her eyes and braces before letting 
the waves of psionic energies hit her and she -rocks-. This is the strange 
part, for a moment the entire room starts to flicker, everything going blank 
like it did before when Sam hit her, only this time... the ceiling... it's... 
cracking? Lishka was thrown back into the gale and slammed against the wall. 
-Hard.- But she still seems to be consious, and after a few more flickers, the 
illusions are back up. The attack -hurt-, but she was fully powered now, so it 
didn't do as much as Sam's punches on her when she was dreadfully low on 
energy.

Oh. Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit. "JONO!" Paige is rocked almost as hard 
just by SEEING Lishka blown away. "Ya kill her, ya damn fool, and we won't be 
gettin' OUTTA this mess! Someone's gotta let us outta the top, right? An' we 
still don't know what she's done with Ev'rett!" She fastens her nails into his 
jacketed arm, trying to stop him from doing it AGAIN.. of course, when Jono 
gets like this - he's bound to follow through what he intends... she may be 
talking to a brick wall.

The almost-solid stream of energy is let to tamper away, still pounding 
against Lishka for a moment, the energies still contained within his chest, 
even as he moves towards the woman, (~~...th'n maybe she'll lower th'llusion, 
b'fore I f'nish the job.~~) he says, almost spitting the words out, his hands 
clenched into fists at his sides, the glow from his energies casting almost 
evil-looking shadows over his face. The psi is mad, he wants out of this maze, 
and he wants out now.

Jubilee blinks several times.. first, at the fact that Jono actually HURT 
Lishka! This could be a good thing. Then at Paige's words.. this could be a 
bad thing. Then again as Jono approches. Deffinatly Bad Thing.. but maybe it 
could be made into a good thing! Jube scampers up to her feet and glowers at 
Lishka. "Man wench, you seen we can't control him. And look at what you did?! 
I think you better give us some help with this one before he blasts you into 
oblivion, cuz man, trust me, he won't care if we all go with you - just as 
long as /you/ go." Pleaseworkpleaseworkpleasework!!

Terry calls out, "Listen t' her, she is really tellin' y' th' truth on this 
one!" She figures its the best arguement anyone has come up with.

	Lishka gives a loud grunt and pulls herself off the wall, then she 
laughs, "Please. There's only two ways I can die, and none of them involveing 
being thrown around by psionic powers, no matter how formitable they are." She 
looks straight at Jono, eyes angry, no ice present. The funny thing here is, 
sometimes Lishka is like ice, and other's, she is like fire. That whole use of 
both Isa and Kenaz in her name. "I told you, boy, that your powers, no matter 
how they work in your world, are not as powerful here. Blast me as many times 
as you want. I'll keep coming back. Because you'd never be able to kill me if 
you searched for a thousand years. Something that was not born - can not die." 
Then she turns towards Jubilee and says softly, "You were on the right track, 
young one. The fire is the key. Touch is a sense like any other..." One would 
expect her to vanish at this point, but she doesn't. Perhaps she's tired, 
perhaps she wants to see what happens next. Who knows?

"JONO!" Okay, she's going to do this - and Jono's gonna hate her for it. She 
grabs that arm she's cling to him, and goes to WHIRL Him around - and if 
successful, she's going to smack him. Hard. Across what's left of his face. 
"Listen. To. Me. You CANNOT put this ENTIRE team at RISK Because you've got 
*issues* here. You've got to *stop* what you're doing and *STAND DOWN*. This 
will get us NO WHERE." Damn, wouldn't Sam be proud of her?

So Jono is whirled, and smacked, just as he is keying up for a second blast. 
But he is soon to key down, as well, (~~..wot th'ell `re y'doin'?!~~) he says 
to his group (~~...She w's `urt! I c'lda t'k `er, and be rid o'all these DAMN 
GAMES!~~). His face is slowly turning back to Paige as he says this, the 
energies raging like a roaring furnace inside his chest. Yup, he's pissed. And 
he wants to give Lishka a beating.

She was on the right track.. Through all Paige and Jono do, that is the only 
thing that gets through to Jubilee. She was on the right track.. touch is a 
sense.. and Lishka fools the senses.. And then there was the flickering of 
that pain in her fingers.. Gone for a second after Jono hit Lishka. "It's all 
an illusion.." Her head lifts and she looks up at the fire-wall with some new-
found resolve. "It's all an illusion." she repeats softly.. This is probably 
the craziest thing you've ever done, Jubilee, but it's for Ev.. "You promised 
him, Lishka, that you wouldn't hurt us. You've kept your promise so far." She 
casts a glance to Lishka once, saying "For your sake I hope you're still 
keeping it, or you blow any microscopic chance you have with Ev." And with 
that, Jube turns to the firewall and murmurs "Man, you better appricate what I 
do for you, Ev." before she starts running full-tilt towards the fire-wall. If 
she just makes it through quick enough.. it shouldn't hurt too bad. It 
shouldn't burn her too bad.. She'll jump, she'll roll to put out any fire that 
catches on her dress.. And unless someone stops her, that's exactly what 
Jube's gunna do. She's all out of ideas - she's tired, she misses Ev, she 
wants to go HOME! - we're going with insanity now.

Terry takes to the air, she looks like she is going to stop Jube. For an 
instant she almost does but instead she grabs Jube's hand and pulls her with 
her towards the fire.

	Lishka gives a small satisfied smile and nods as Jubilee takes the leap 
of faith. What the hell? Lishka's -happy-? They just got up another level and 
she's -happy-? Does she -want- to lose? She glances towards Jono and Paige, 
waiting to see what they do. She looks prepared for Jono to go wacko and smack 
the hell out of her with those psionics of his, but she isn't going to run. 
They can throw her around, and they hurt like hell, and they drain her energy 
faster then any illusions ever have. But she will not run.

Paige's eyes flicker to Jono, and then after Jubilee as she makes her mad 
dash. "You've got a choice, Jonothon. Vent, or beat her at her own 'game'. The 
latter will hurt her more in the long run, I assure you." And then she lets go 
of him, and bolts like a mad woman (which is what she is) toward the flames.

He stands for a mere moment, before glaring at Lishka as he bolts forwards, 
after Paige and the rest, for the flames, mentally preparing himself. 
HOpefully his body can block out the assumed pain.

"AAAIIIIEEEEE!!" squeels Jubilee as Terry picks her up and zooms to and 
through the flames, both in suprise and pain. Jube squirms free of Terry's 
grip the second they are through the 'wall', tears in her eyes which are not 
shead, and not a single burn on her body. She stomps around, wanting the pain 
in her feet to overwhelm the pain.. everywhere else.

Terry rolls as she lands hard. She curses over and over, "G'damn tha' hurt!"

	Lishka just continues to smile, folding her arms over her chest as they 
all take the leap. Why is she so happy that they made it through this room? 
Because now she can go up to Everett and say how she -helped- his friends and 
try to turn it to her favor. And also as a way to appologize for the hail 
storm she put him through. She does kinda feel bad about doing that. Ick. 
Guilt. Not a good emotion. She's gonna have to stop practicing these emotions. 
They're making her weaker then she already is. She whispers under her breath 
'Isa' and cools the air on the other side of the fire. That should help soothe 
the pain a little... a small douce of charity. Gah. If the Elders saw her 
today... Jonothon wouldn't need to smack her around psionically.

Ow? Can we say 'ow' agian!? OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW! Paige blows thourgh the 
fire into the chilled air in the otherside, and though she's silent through 
the flames, flesh being 'burnt' away, she gasps at the difference in 
temperature, as she stumbles and falters in her steps. Okay, she's gunna lay 
down and nap now. Yeah, that sounds really good. Yeah, Paige is banking low in 
stamina, and so, as she plumetts through the flames, she missteps, and his the 
ground. Hard. And stays there.

Jono is a step behind Paige, still looking pissed, contemplating telling Terry 
to grab Paige, get her ass up the fireescape, while the psi stays a step or 
two down to blast Lishka again. But he doesn't instead moving towards Paige, 
the sides of his jacket flipping in the window, (~~..c'mon, luv, we need t'get 
goin'..~~) he says, kneeling to try to pick her up.

Jubilee continues to stomp around, silently blessing and cursing the sudden 
cold all at once. "C'mon c'mon lets keep movin'!" she says as she starts to 
stomp towards the firescape at a quick pace. Maybe if they get out of this 
room then the /burning/ will stop! Argh! 'Man Ev, you REALLY owe me some major 
nookie for this. On my /birthday/ of all days you gotta get /captured/! Men.' 
Jube thinks as she single-mindedly starts up the fire-escape.

Terry stands and limps towards the fire escape. The woman bled for Ev, and now 
it looks like her ankle has been twisted for him too. Man its been a sucky 
night.

	Lishka watches them all make it through, then invokes one last rune... 
'Uruz'. The rune of lifting the viel, and also the rune which empowers it's 
namer with raw energy. Magical energy. She's gonna need it. But luckily, 
she'll be able to rest while they do... That is of course unless she decides 
it's time to -finally- focas on her prisoner upstairs. She hasn't done 
anything to him yet really... With that, she vanishes.


Firescape -- Tower of Illusion -- Niflheim

	The fire still burns and still gives off heat, but once you reach the 
firescape itself it feels a lot less painful. The firescape itself is just 
like that of any other that could be seen on the side of a building in New 
York. A ladder leads up to a platform that has a set of stairs up to the next. 
All metal. It looks old, rusted, and creaks under any wieght. 


--To be continued in furture logs--