xp_logs | Sarah, Betsy: Answers

Betsy had spent the better part of the day sitting outside, meditating. It had done little to calm her nerves, but it was a start. As she headed back to the school, lost in her stray thoughts, she realized that she promised Hank that she would stop in. She looked over to the separate rooms. Might as well pop in and say hello, right? But she doubted Sarah would want to see her. Betsy sighed inwardly. Without using her telepathy, there was only one way to find out.

Sarah was curled up on her bed, a notebook and a stack of pens forgotten at her feet, in favor of the bloodshed on the television. She almost didn't hear the hesitant knock on the door over the noise of the movie, but by some stroke of luck she did. Muting the television, she craned her head to look over her shoulder to the door. "Yeah?"

Betsy popped her head in, smiling at the organized mess of Sarah's space. "Can I come in?"

"Guess so." The answer isn't particularly friendly, nor is it hostile. Just curious and a little apprehensive. She sat up, moving her notebook to the desk and making a space on the bed for Betsy to sit.

"Thanks." She closed the door behind her, making her way over the bed. Though she chose to stand, it had nothing to do with the slight scowl on Sarah's face. "I just thought I'd say hello, since I was around and all."

Sarah nodded slowly (maybe sadly? hard to tell with the muddle of emotions that she carries around with her), running a hand through her hair and resting them in her lap when she finished. "Thanks, I guess. I don't get many visitors down here, but I guess that's because I'm not particularly hospitable."

Betsy knew what that expression meant. "Sarah, you shouldn't be thanking me. Besides, I'm happy I could be the first to start a trend. Now, as long as we can get the others to join in, I'll be satisfied."

"Maybe not the first... I think Jono got that, and then Paige and Shinobi." A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but never fully forms. At least not yet. "And I'm not sure I want a stream of visitors down here. I like the quiet."

"My plan has been foiled!" She smiled thoughtfully at the younger woman. "Well, none of us are going to deny that I haven't missed quite a bit. But, I still like to think I started the trend first! Regardless of what you say..."

"Nah, you always dragged me down to your office. I'm not sure if you ever saw my room." She stopped for a moment, as if she were finished, and then added quickly, "And don't get any ideas."

"I'll try not to. Sarah, I wanted to know...if you had thought on..." Betsy tentatively sat down on Sarah's bed. "I promised you an explanation, perhaps even insight to what happened."

Sarah nodded. "I'd like to know. Something. Anything. There's too many holes in the story from my point of view, and I fucking hate it."

"Sometimes not knowing is easier, makes for a smoother transition." Betsy tried ignoring the feeling of heaviness burdening her shoulders. She stood up, hugging herself, trying to distance herself from the uncomfortable feelings she was experiencing. " I can't show you what happened. I could tell you, or you could ask the Professor to show you what you already know."

Sarah was obviously not thrilled at the suggestion of going to the Professor, going with the fastest, most painless option instead. "Tell me?"

Damn. Silly move, Braddock. "Alright, first I need to know what you remember about that night. To know where I need to start."

"Next to nothing. I heard gunshots and ran upstairs, and then I woke up in the medlab."

"Right, of course." Betsy head dropped, slightly. She couldn't believe she was doing this, willingly, of all things. She took a moment before falling back on her false memories, her eyes remaining closed. The smell of blood, the strangled sounds, and Sarah's confused expression. "I was walking down the hall. Yes, I remember the gunshots. But I could not see, my telepathy had been dampened."

"I....she was planning her leave of the school. I didn't want her to leave everyone, unprotected. I tried to fight back, but couldn't. I think that's when you came across us in the halls." Betsy flinched from the next flash of images, she grabbed at her left arm. "There was a fight, you came at me, and then..."

Sarah pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she listened silently, terrified and excited. It was as if she hadn't been there at all.

"....my hand" She raised her left arm, staring at it, wondering if it would work. It didn't. "It glowed like a sword and I attacked you with it. You fought and I made you unconscious, right as I wiped your memory of the encounter. And I left you there."

She stared off in the distance, as she finished her story.

Sarah's face paled, as she sat there perfectly still, waiting for more. There had to be more? Something? "Why the 'I'? It wasn't you.. right?"

Betsy broke from her trance. "Yes, well, it was me, partially. My conscious was there and now these are my memories. But, I can't really explain it to myself, let alone to you Sarah."

She nodded again, pulling a bone coming in low on her spine, throwing it to the pile with a clatter. "I don't blame you. You know that, right?"

"I still think you deserve to have your memories returned to you." Betsy tried to bring herself to offering, but she paused. "You should see the Professor, have him undo what was done. It'd be best for all-around."

"I think I'm okay without them for now." Her voice is hushed, nearly scared.

"Sarah," Betsy said softly, her voice pleading. "I promise it won't hurt and will only take a matter of moments."

"I don't want anybody in my head right now. It makes me feel better." She's obviously not planning on changing her mind anytime soon.

Shaking her head, she looked back up at Sarah, obviously confused. "I don't understand."

Sarah shook her head, breathing out something akin to a sigh. "Don't worry about it. Just--thanks for filling in some of the blanks for me."

"No, wait." Betsy moved closer, obviously working the nerve up to something. She had to make things right. "What if, if I take you into my memories. I wouldn't be in your head and you can see it all."

Sarah looked at her, eyes narrowed in contemplation. "You don't have to Betsy... really."

She sat down, this time at Sarah's desk. Betsy played it all over in her head. She had managed her meditations without little problem. This shouldn't be an issue, though she'd avoided using her abilities since waking up. "No, I do. If you trust me, I'd be willing and I promise you, you wouldn't feel anything. You'd only see what happened, you won't relive it."

Tenitively, Sarah moved closer to that side of the bed. She's quiet again. "...What do I have to do?"

Betsy felt the gap between her telepathy and her mind lessen. To become whole again, to breathe, as it were. " You need only to close your eyes and let me guide you."

This would be about the time when it's good to mention how terribly she did in the psychic defense class, but she's too busy trying desperately not to think about what happened the last time she put this much trust in Betsy. She took a deep breath, and her eyes flutted closed. Please don't hurt me.

I won't, I promise. Betsy steadied her breathing, as she placed her hands on Sarah's temples. Giving the girl a reassuring smile, Betsy began to bring her memories to the forefront, once again. Betsy closed her eyes, connecting herself with Sarah's mind. She felt the tinge of nervousness coming from her and she couldn't help but mirror the feelings. Right. "Three, two, one. Contact."

"What is it with this school and its' ongoing need to be sucked into the lower levels of hell? If it isn't exploding children, military incursions, and a mad doctor wanting to know all my particulars." Elisabeth Braddock walked casually through the hallway, the massive devastation going on in the background. "You know, this place might be a nice respite, if it wasn't for all the shooting."

Sarah skidded down the hallway in baggy pajama pants and a torn tank top, bone grasped firmly in one hand. If she wasn't so pissed off that these fuckers were coming in and taking _hostages_, she'd be excited to get a chance to really fight. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches somebody walking calmly in the other direction. She stops in her tracks. Betsy. _Oh shit._

As if brought out of a haze by this, she stopped abruptly. This time speaking with her accent in place. "We must go back. The children, they'll need my help."

Betsy face broke into devious grin, her eyes making the expression, slightly unnerving. "It is none of my concern. Their battle, not mine."

Sarah watched, standing as still as she possibly could, her expression a mix of confusion and anger. What the fuck was going on?

Letting out a low laugh. "If it wasn't for the fact that the ignorant drones brought something to shield my telepathy. My hold on you wouldn't be as weak as it is now, my dear, dear Betsy. And once I get out of here, I'll regain my control and you'll become a distant memory."

Betsy? It almost made her feel better, knowing that it was somebody else in that body, almost. She gripped the bone in her hand a little tighter. Whoever it was, they were going down. She knew the little secret now.

The purple-haired maven struggled for a moment. Her face now etched with fear. "They'll help me. They have to....help me."

The entity known as Betsy seemed to pause for a moment, struggling from within. "NO!"

It was the last thing before the other, the face that did not belong, returned to its' cool placid features. Kwannon continued walking down the hall, resuming to her casual stroll. "Quiet now, you poor fool. Rest your little heart."

Ah, there. The buzzing in the back of her mind had returned. Kwannon felt it all around her. She closed her eyes, reveling in the madness of the mansion's occupants. All afraid, some bloodthirsty, and desperately unaware. It was unholy and fulfilling. It was too much and not enough. She craved for /more./ She needed more, Kwannon opened her eyes and lazily licked her lips. "Such a pity no one seems to care for you. But, I will. I'll keep you nice and safe. And hopefully, we won't have any more 'conversations' to speak of."

She waited for a response. When none came, she continued. "Good. Now, let's get on with it. Shall we?"

Sarah watched them leave, taking careful note of which way she was headed. When she thought they were out of earshot, she ran. Nearly as fast as she had arrived. She headed straight for the computer lab, and shoved the door open. She willed the computer to go faster as she waited for it to sign in, hands nearly shaking, whether out of anger, fear or in anticipation she wasn't quite sure. Probably all three.

The sound of footsteps racing in the opposite direction brought her out of her bloodlusting reverie, and sent her into action. Turning back, she found the little heathen hunched over the computer. "Now, now. That's not very nice, Sarah."

_Fuck_. She hit send, only half of her message sent, but enough to at least draw alarm. She hoped the rest of the school was smart enough to figure it out from there. She turned around, bone still gripped in her hand, and glared. "What the hell have you done to Betsy?"

Kwannon looked at the sent image on the screen. Her voice steely cold. "Oh, dear. That was definitely not a bright move."

"Already been sent." she said with a shrug, "They'll be able to figure it out."

She grabbed Sarah's hand, pulling her forward. "Oh, your precious Betsy is here. Not for too much longer, but here she remains."

With a growl, Sarah tried to pull her hand away. "We're going to get her back, fucking bitch."

Bringing Sarah within mere inches of her face. "You could try, but I doubt they'd listen. You're little Betsy has been making calls for help for weeks now. And no one's come to her aid."

She twisted Sarah and held her in a choke hold position, lifting up her shirt with one hand and running it down her back. "Ah, I see you've healed since our last encounter."

Sarah twisted and struggled, hands beginning to bone over. "That was nothing. Two days, and nobody could tell anything had happened."

"I'll keep that in mind, pretty one."

Sarah took advantage of Betsy's otherwise occupied hands to grab a bone from her leg and lash out with it. She didn't really care _where_ she hit, as long as it got her in a little better position to fight back. With her other bone covered hand, she clawed at Betsy's arm around her neck. "You're not going to get that chance."

Kwannon pushed Sarah away with extreme force, grabbing at her forearm, blood seeping heavily from the deep gash. "You stupid little girl! You'd wish you hadn't done that. I promise you," Kwannon growled. She positioned herself in front of the door, Kwannon waited for the young Morlock to react. One move and she would fall, hard.

Sarah turned quickly to face her, several bones visibly sprouting through her skin. "Just add it to the list bitch."

"Oh, I will." Her eyes darkened as she took her defensive stance. Smears of blood on her face, made her menacing sight in the blinding light of the computer lab.

Sarah pulled another bone from her shoulder, this one more clublike than the others, and held it tight in one hand. A bloody, sharp bone knife held in the other. With a growl, she charged and swung the club at Betsy, hard.

Charging her had been the fatal mistake. She pulled back quickly and then Kwannon waited for the last possible moment. With her outstretched left hand, a bright purple blade emanated from her fist. As their bodies made contact, Kwannon slammed the blade into the young girl's skull and digged. A feeling of pure pleasure filled her body as she shivered from the shock of the new presence in her thoughts.

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise, certainly not expecting this turn of events. Whatever it was, it fucking _hurt_. Sarah screamed, a sort of strangled, pain-filled sound that quickly died as she fell to the ground.

Her hand followed the limp form as it collasped beneath her. It'd been too long, she thought. Too long. Her eyes rolled back in her head, as she sifted through memories, buried secrets, and pain. So much pain. It was a tableau of suffering and it wasn't enough. Never enough.

Then, right at that moment, when she'd had her fill and there, laid the lifeline. Ready to be cut from the tether. Kwannon stopped. The sleeping one had awaken and fought for control again. Fighting fiercely to protect the fallen one, but why? Her head still entrenched in Sarah's skull, she leaned down and grabbed onto Sarah's chin, studying her the young face. "What does this one mean to you, Elisabeth?"

Sarah's head snapped up, still struggling against whatever was happening. "Betsy?" she finally managed.

Kwannon pulled back her psi-blade quickly and snarled. There was much need to practice. The spirit in this Braddock woman was troublesome. Making her careless and Kwannon let out a scream of disgust. "Fine, you want this little one alive, Elisabeth. You can never again say that I am an uncompromising woman. I'll let her live though her memory of us will not."

Kwannon moved back, reigniting the psi-blade. In a mock British voice, she leaned in and said. "Goodnight, Ms. Morlock. I promise, this shan't hurt, much."

Sarah gasped as she watched -herself- fall to the ground, more distracted really by the bright purple light coming from Kwannon. The mocking British voice made her shiver involuntarily, the lines between Betsy and Kwannon blurred for a moment. And then it was over. Oh fuck. No wonder I had such a headache.

Indeed. Her eyes remained fixed on the scene as she froze the memory, preventing Sarah from seeing more than she needed. Betsy chanced a look at Sarah, sensing her shock. We should go now.

Yeah. I've seen all I needed. More than enough really. She could have done without the malicious Betsy-voice. Ah well, you take some and lose some?

Sarah, I'm.... Nevermind. Right, let's do it, then. Betsy faced Sarah, the tips of her fingers on her temples Three, two... Betsy's voice echoed in the silence. "One."