Wednesday, October 29th 2018

"That should present a challenge, but do not become too full of yourself... or twice yourself, I suppose..." he chuckles. "I have always been one for coming up with new tricks."

"Oh, I have little doubt of that, Morrigan. Little doubt." he replied. "The true question, and the most interesting one, is, when you finally do, will it be to tie up a loose end and bring down an evil villain, or will it be to seek out my help... to discover what you are truly capable of, and to take your rightful place in this world. Yes... most interesting." he chuckled.

"Any last words before I end this lovely conversation? People to see... to corrupt... I can't be lolligagging around."

"So you say now, Morrigan. We shall see." he replied, a smug tone to his voice.

"Until next time." he said, and she could feel the astral connection go dead. The morlock boy, oblivious to the entire exchange, made his way up some stairs, into a larger tunnel, where he met up with some others, joining them on their way down the tunnel towards what seemed to be a common area.

Samantha's avatar shook all three of its heads, and slowly began to ascend to street level.

You're sure about that? Not needing him.. let things get a bit more violent and your mind might change. Death's tone was bitter.

Bite your tongue. Your version leaves me, stuck in you, and Pestilence dead. Her anger was suppressed, but there.

"Do you think I wanted that? I can't bring her back."

Her avatar retreated from the city, descending back into the womb chamber.

"As it always is when we arrive on this subject."

Her avatar looked to Ben.

"He may quite well be alive, and I dislike him strongly already."

"Oh really? That's strange. He was such a gracious host when I saw him." he replied, dryly.

Ben sighed. "Well, it would have been nice to cross him off the list of problems. Dammit."

"Yeah. It just makes me angry that I missed one." he replies. "So, if there's any way I can help you out, just let me know."

Samantha issued the mental command to the console, and the fluid started to drain from the tank. Once it lowered enough, Samantha coughed up the fluid from her lungs and, after taking a few strained breaths, headed to retrieve her robe.

Ben stood, and levitated the robe over to meet Sam.

"If you let me help, I could track him down, Benjamin. With access to the Cerebra Womb, it would take moments, and we could snuff him out from here." the Phoenix Force said into his head. It wouldn't be difficult for Sam to pick up on the conversation.

"No."

"And why not? It would be over, and your worries would be gone."

"And new ones would begin. That much power is too much. No thanks."

"A bit eager, isn't she?"

She slipped on the robe.

"I simply do not see the need to wait, Samantha McManus, nor the point. He is out there. He will cause problems for you in the future if you do not find him, even in the short term. If you are concerned with the morality of hunting him down and killing him... it is HE who started all this."

"I've already killed enough people with barely a thought to it, regardless of them starting it." Ben replied.

"And the Phoenix is a genie that is rather difficult to put back in its bottle, as quite definitely shown..."

"You are fragile beings when it comes to power." The Phoenix replies.

"That's right... and that's why I'm refusing."

"You are stronger than you think, Benjamin Reese." it said, before falling silent.

Ben frowned and gave a sigh.

"It's not pleasant knowing what you could do, is it Ben?"

"No... it's not." he replied.

"You do have my sympathies. You know that, right?"

"Thanks." he said. "Now let's get out of here, before I take her up on her offer."

Samantha snorted at that.

"Yes, come along. We're full up on crazy people here."

She headed over to get changed.