We'd All Go Down Together (IC)

[Electra]

Singularity heard the voice in her head, and suddenly the world plunged back into nightmare. Pathos was gone, but now there was a new girl instead, staring at her, looking into her mind. She hadn't gotten away after all, it was impossible to escape, just like Pathos said... Horror and panic began to well up in her mind as she scrambled for mental defenses that just didn't exist and hadn't for a very long time.

There was nothing to stop the tide of power that swept into her psyche, overwhelming all the fear and replacing it with... calm. Just simple, removed calm, the sort that seemed to suggest that no matter what happened, it couldn't be too important. Singularity's spine bowed as she slumped in place a little. Her eyes, still locked on Sage's, went slightly glassy as she let the teddy bear fall into her lap.

[April]

Making a soft shushing sound, Sage lifted the teddy bear from Singularity's lap and put it back into the hands of the broken girl. The things she sensed among the rising terror and panic, before she shut it down as gently as she knew how, upset the telepath and though she did her level best to keep it from showing she knew that her friends could tell. The idea that that a psychic had done this sort of damage infuriated the young Martel --She needs food,-- the psychic said after a few moments, breaking eye contact and looking up at Wander. --Before she goes anywhere she eats, please.--

[Avenger Assembled]

Having come back in with the Gravois family, Mark didn't hesitate. He was back in his bright, cheerful costume; exactly the opposite (in more ways than one) of what his counterpart would wear. "Erin?" he said, kneeling down and staying just out of arm's reach so he wouldn't frighten her: he hoped he wouldn't frighten her, anyway: "This is for you." He produced from the air a sandwich, two all-beef patties, lettuce, mayo, and a sliced tomato inside wheat bread: he'd been practicing. "Here, eat up. If you want more, I can make that too. We can give you whatever you want to eat."

[Gizmo]

Rubbing a gloved hand over his onyx and ruby eyes tiredly, Trevor stepped around the others to stand next to his Erin. "Sure you don't want me to come with you?" he asked softly, searching her face to try to discern how much of her composed demeanor was from her natural determination and how much was simply riding out built up momentum. "Either way, of course," he answered her earlier question. He had not intention of letting her spend the night alone, for both their sakes.

[Electra]

Some hint of fear flickered in Singularity's eyes as Edge approached, but Sage's powers were still doing their job, and it disappeared as quickly as it had come. She was definitely interested in the sandwich, though, snatching it away and eating it in quick, big bites as though she were afraid it was going to be taken away. A few steps away, Wander took the teacup that Supercape had brought out to her. "Thanks," she told him, but handed the cup to her counterpart. Singularity took that too, not even seeming to notice the heat, and gulped it down.

With her counterpart dealt with for the moment, Erin-Wander was able to take a few much-needed steps away to try and regain some distance. She sighed and reached for Trevor's hand when he came over, squeezing gently. "I think it's going to be hard," she said quietly. "I think she's not going to want to be in a cell, even an observation one that's nicer than what the typical bad guys get. It'll probably take hours to get through all the paperwork and stuff. It'll be easier if you guys can get Caryatid and her family taken care of, all our gear dealt with, that kind of thing." Behind the impassive mask, she looked tired and very sad, but she didn't seem to be in any danger of losing her composure. The lip Singularity had split had yet to heal up, a testament to the force behind the blow.

[Gizmo]

Trevor didn't look any less concerned, but he nodded slightly as he held Erin's hand. "Alright. Can be there if you need; just call." reaching into his jacket with his free hand, he produced a handkerchief, not surprisingly made of soft, black cloth, and with slow deliberateness dabbed gingerly at her lip. Offering her the square to hang onto, he glanced toward her rescued double. "You did it," he observed. "You saved her."

[April]

--She's not saved yet,-- Sage said, rising from her crouch and glancing at Midnight and Wander. She let her gaze fall back to Singularity, an almost tender expression on her face as she watched her eat, before looking back to the couple. --Rescued, yes. But there is a lot of damage to undo and, if you'd allow me, I'd like to help.--

The telepath scrubbed a gloved hand through her short white hair, --Speaking of help, she might be easier to transport her if I go with you, at least until you make the transfer. I have her panic and fear suppressed at the moment.--

[Avenger Assembled]

"If you guys can take charge of Singularity, I'll handle the Gravois family," said Edge, smiling a little before keeping his distance from Singularity on the transporter pad. "I'll contact the League and the school so they know what we're doing, and so they can process the refugees." He smiled thinly. "We can't just show up with Francois and get her registered tomorrow...and I think they like me more than that Erin does. I'll make sure no one comes looking around Blackstone until after you've already processed what needs processing."

[Gizmo]

--Work with me here, Eve,-- Trevor replied telepathically, even his thoughts carrying a note of weariness. While the diminutive psychic had a point about Singularity's long road to recovery, and was in a position to know, the young man was trying to see to the emotional well being of one Erin White at a time. Nodding to Mark, he continued aloud, "Mm. Summer is not going to be pleased, you realize."

[Avenger Assembled]

Edge smiled thinly as he stepped off the platform, heading back to the Gravois family who were watching the spectacle with tense, pale faces. They'd been through a hell of a lot in the last couple of days, and it was probably just habit that was keeping one or all from freaking out in the presence of the super-people. "Probably so," Mark agreed. "But if he's busy being pissed at me, he won't be getting pissed at you guys." His grin turned crooked. "You may not know this," he admitted, "but I can be pretty irritating when I put my mind to it."

[Electra]

Wander rubbed a hand over her face and looked around at the group. She felt like she'd gotten things planned up until about this exact point, and from here on out, she was playing by ear. "You all make good points," she said, "and we all know how irritating you can be in a good cause, Edge. Midnight, if you go with him, the two of you can handle Summers no problem, and get all that straightened out. Sage, yeah, it would probably be useful having you around for backup at Blackstone." She nodded, satisfied with her own plan, then regarded the team soberly. "I owe all of you a lot. I never would've been able to do this on my own, and it means a lot to me."

[April]

Sage smiled faintly and shook her head. --Friends take care of each other,-- she opined as she moved to stand beside Singularity. Taking care not to dislodge the teddy bear, or deprive the powerhouse of her meal, she gently coaxed the abused mirror of her friend to her feet. All the while she continued to smother Singularity's fears and worries under a blanket of tranquility, quietly reassuring the girl that everything will be better from here on out.

[Gizmo]

"Any day of the week," Trevor murmured quietly, with the faintest ghost of a smile. Reaching up, he brushed the edge of her auburn hair lightly with his fingertips. "See you tonight." Turning about, he stepped over to Mark and the Gravois family, gesturing briefly in the direction they were all headed. "No need to worry," he told the refuges a touch more loudly. "You can trust absolutely in my friend's ability to irritate."

[Avenger Assembled]

Trevor had seen Mark talk himself into, and out of, all kinds of implausible situations in the past, and as the boys got the Gravois family out of harms way, the Lucas heir threw himself into the work of making husband, wife, Caryatid, and her younger sister at home in the Young Freedom headquarters. "You guys just sit tight," he told them warmly, "take it easy in here," which turned out to be the little 'living room' style room that was part of much of the underground dwelling, cast in the retrofuture shape of the mid-1970s. "Take anything you need," he added, "our place is your place." What the hell, they might as well get Alex's wealth working for them. "Midnight, why don't you call the League?" he suggested. "I'll get in touch with the school and handle..." He swallowed. "Mr. Summers."

[Electra]

Erin smiled just a little as she watched Trevor go, then grew entirely serious again as she stepped onto the transport pad. Singularity was being extremely malleable at this point, licking her fingers clean of any stray sandwich crumbs and standing placidly next to Sage while they waited for transit. That was a relief. Erin had worried that she'd have to try and explain to her counterpart beforehand that she was going back into a box, albeit a nicer, safer, less horrific one, for an indefinite period of time. Now she could just do what had to be done.

Tugging off her ruined camouflage gear so she was more official in blue and gold uniform, Wander looked at her counterpart and announced, "Erin Keeley White EVM1, known as Singularity, you are under arrest for use of metahuman abilities in causing gross bodily harm to civilians. You will be remanded to Blackstone Prison for incarceration and evaluation until such time as you are put on trial." Singularity looked over, sensing she was being addressed, but did not respond or even seem interested. Wander nodded to Alex's grandfather, and the trio disappeared in a flash of light.

A moment later they appeared in a metal-lined room full of harsh white light. Wander felt Singularity's body jerk once next to her, fighting the calming effect, but the moment passed once more before Wander could do more than turn. She saw the cameras embedded in the ceilings and walls, along with the nozzles that probably spewed gas or shot energy if the need arose. "My name is Wander," she told the cameras. "I'm with Young Freedom. This is Sage, my friend. We've apprehended Singularity, who has outstanding warrants in Freedom City, but she's psychologically unsound." Erin had spent time memorizing the jargon that would make her sound more official, and she was glad of it now. "Dr. Atom called ahead and gave you the particulars, I think."

There was a brief pause. "Please wait for the arrival of the Warden," came an emotionless voice through the speaker.

[April]

The adrenaline that had been pumping through the psychics body during the escape had long since faded, replaced with bone wearying fatigue. Mid-transport she felt her control over Singularity slip, though she quickly reasserted command of the detainee's emotions, suppressing the fight or flight response. Doing so summoned of feelings of contempt within the telepath, more with herself than anyone else, as she wondered how doing this made her any different from Singularity's abusers.

"Still," she mused, "this is as much for her safety as it is for our own. I suppose that's where the difference lies."

Time felt as though it were moving at a glacial pace, and eventually the small teen started to pace back and forth, feeling Singularity's subconscious futilely fight against the imposed calm.

[Avenger Assembled]

There was an uncomfortably long delay, though that might just have been the nerves of the very, very long couple of days on everyone's mind. Eventually the door slid open and the warden entered: Joshua Drummer was a middle-aged Native American man, stocky and muscular yet inside his armored prison uniform. Perhaps surprisingly, under the circumstances, he came alone, carrying a metal circlet in his hands that seemed to absorb some of the room's bright light. "Hello Wander, Sage," he said professionally. "Yes, Dr. Atom did call in with your particulars, and just in time. It's not every day we accept a class-S inmate on such short notice." He studied Singularity and asked, "Erin, my name is Joshua. I'm here to help."

[Electra]

Singularity stared at the stranger, kneading the teddy bear with both hands as she watched the man approach. She didn't know him, for better or worse, but he didn't seem very strong or very dangerous. The circle thing might be bad news, but it was too hard to get worked up over anything right now. Surely it would all be all right, somehow. She broke eye contact and looked down at the bear, carefully smoothing its fur down with her fingers.

"I'm sorry about the short notice," Wander said, "but the circumstances were unusual. I'm glad you were able to make room." She was alert, standing on the balls of her feet and ready to intervene in a heartbeat if her counterpart tried to attack anyone, but right now that seemed unlikely. Wander decided not to mention that the reason the notice was so short was because she'd spent ages trying to think of another way, then a long time convincing Doctors Atom, Marquez, and Franklin to back her up and intervene on Singularity's behalf. She hoped that if there was enough important scientific support behind her, that there'd be less risk of seeing Singularity locked into a box even smaller and sparser than the one she'd come out of. "She doesn't talk much," she explained to the warden, "and Sage has her calmed down right now. She gets wound up easily."

[Avenger Assembled]

"She'll need to be evaluated," said Drummer frankly. "If she's too unstable to be housed here, she'll have to be moved to Providence. My first priority is the safety of the staff and our prisoners, and we're not equipped to handle unstable powerhouses like Erin." He softened, and added, "But I know she's also a frightened young woman far from home, and we'll do everything we can for her until then. If we are able to house her, we do have a facility set aside for her that can be converted for long-term stay." He hefted the circlet. "This is a power nullifier. Will she let you put it on her?"

[Electra]

Wander grimaced at the reality of that possibility. If Singularity couldn't be handled in Blackstone, sending her to the asylum was the only other option, but given that Providence didn't have things like double-thick impervium walls, confinement would have to be handled with power nullifiers and enough drugs to overcome her body's natural resistance to toxins. She was suddenly doubly glad for Sage's presence. With any luck, they'd have the extra Erin evaluated and tucked away before the psychic whammy wore off.

Taking the power nullifier, Wander approached her counterpart, who turned to look at her and tightened her grip on the bear. "Hold tight," Wander murmured to Sage, then stepped in without hesitation and clamped the nullifier around Singularity's left forearm. Singularity jerked with surprise,then immediately staggered, making a soft whimpering noise as she struggled to keep her feet. "You'll feel better in just a minute," Wander assured her, not unsympathetically. She'd worn a power nullifier before, the first few moments without half one's physical abilities was enough to stagger anyone.

[April]

Sage frowned at the sight of the power nullifier, she had to admit that it made sense to employ one, but it still twisted her stomach. As the unstable Erin staggered, Sage stepped in closer to provide support, cradling the powerhouse until she could find her feet; The image of the tiny teen trying to support one significantly taller might have been comical in other circumstances.

--If she were only a frightened young woman,-- Sage started, looking at Drummer, --treatment would be a lot simpler. Her mind has been a psychic's plaything, not to mention the mundane mental trauma inflicted on her with sleep and food deprivation as well as solitary confinement.--

[Avenger Assembled]

Singularity looked miserable, but stayed calm under the influence of Sage's formidable powers. "We have psychics on staff," Drummer allowed. "We can make sure one is available for her care." The door behind him had stayed open, and without the need to focus on the dangerous powerhouse of Singularity, Wander and Sage could see the small group of black-clad guards out there. Given the choice to come in alone or with armed guards, Drummer had chosen to come in by himself. "Erin, I'm going to take you to a place where there's a bed and there's food. Your friends can come with you. Is that all right?"

[Electra]

Despite the fog of calm in her mind, Singularity was afraid of the circle band. Her reflexes were slow though, and the stranger was very fast, and before she could do anything, it was on her arm and locked tight. Suddenly, she felt horrible everywhere. Nothing was working right, nothing felt like it should! Her whole body was heavy and sluggish and unresponsive, and only the calmness kept the shrieking panic from welling up. Then the strangers were grabbing her, and the man told her they were going someplace, and there were guards with guns behind him to make sure that she went. Numbly, she stumbled along after the man, gradually regaining control of her legs, but not much more than that.

Don't push the psychic trauma thing too much, Wander "said" to Sage, trying to project the words to the front of her own mind so they could be easily read. We want them to accept her and not toss her into the asylum. They can take care of her here. She kept one arm under her counterpart's as they walked, making sure the other girl didn't run or fall.

[April]

Looking at her friend and sometimes teammate on the opposite side of Singularity, Sage inclined her head slightly in a gesture of acknowledgement, a hint of apology in her green eyes. --Used to 'speaking my mind,' as it were.-- Sage said to Wander, cutting everyone out of the telepathic loop for a moment. --My method of speaking doesn't really lend itself well to deception or omission; you've no doubt notice I can be rather blunt at times or abruptly shift topic.-- A ghost of a smile played across the telepath's lips, --But I see the wisdom in what you say and will try to... obscure things some, if that will get her the help she needs.--

As they walked down the corridors with their armed escort, Sage was diverting some of her attention to the path they took as well as the security features she passed by, committing the details to her perfect memory. One never knew when that information might come in handy.

[Avenger Assembled]

The walking trip was long and steep, tilting downward into the rock deep in the heart of the island. It was a natural way to move a prisoner in a setting like this: Singularity wasn't someone you wanted to back into an elevator, or have behind you on the stairs. From the flicker of electric eyes in the walls as they passed, they were under some very tight security. It was for the best that Singularity was behaving herself so far. As they went, Drummer murmured to Wander, "Tell me about Singularity. We're going to use one of our cells without bars for her, but I need to know what she can see that won't make her upset. What does she like? Jungles, forests, nature?"