crossing_lostrp | [Isabel] Exposition Time

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[Isabel] Exposition Time

Who: Isabel
Where: Medical Facility: Cafeteria #1
When: Day 20, Mid-Morning
Invited: Everyone in Cafeteria #1
Status: Complete

Isabel let herself be pushed to the cafeteria, ignoring the guns. Of course they didn't trust her. She'd hardly acquitted herself with honour and dignity so far.

The cafeteria was nearly empty, but people were drifting around, drawn by the commotion. Now that Claire was found, Isabel assumed that many would return. she found a seat and sat on it, leaning her elbows on the table and resting her head in her hands.

Suddenly the urge to tell her story became overwhelming. She looked up at the men who surrounded her.

"You probably don't care about the reasons for what I just did," she said, "and I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for it." She sighed. "But after that I can't keep any secrets from you."

She looked at the faces of her listeners again, then looked away. This was going to be hard enough without seeing their reactions.

"My name is Isabel Evans. My human name, anyway. I came to Earth in 1947 with my brother Max, our friend Michael, and Tess. We are hybrids, humans with alien genetics and enhancements, made from our former bodies to be raised on Earth, away from the enemies who had us killed. Max was our planet's ruler; Tess was his Queen. Michael was Max's right-hand man, and I was his wife. In that life I was called Vilandra, and it was my betrayal which brought our downfall."

She shook her head.

"But I still don't remember much of my former life. Our ship crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. You might have heard about that. We emerged from our pods on the remains of the ship in the early nineties, physically aged about eight years old. We were adopted by human families in Roswell and kept our true nature a secret. We didn't know Tess then; there was a full-blooded alien protector on our ship who'd taken her elsewhere and raised her alone.

"Then a girl Max liked, Liz Parker, got shot in a café. It was an accident, and we were there, and... we have powers, as you probably noticed. We can't all do the same things, but Max can heal. He got down after Liz and healed her of a wound that should have killed her. She, of course, wanted to know what was going on, especially when a silver handprint appeared over where the wound had been. An unfortunate side effect of certain things we can do.

"So she found out the whole story, and so did some of her friends, but they were intelligent, and they kept quiet, and helped us a lot. After that incident a lot of people started trying to find us. The FBI, the sheriff... then Tess turned up with the man who'd raised her, our 'protector' who we'd never seen before that moment. The medicine man at the Indian reservation had known him years before, called him 'Nasedo'. It means 'visitor'. He wasn't human at all, could change his shape, had stronger powers. He'd killed a lot of people to keep them away from Tess. That's something else that can leave a silver handprint. Especially the way he liked to do it."

She paused.

"It's long and complicated, but suffice it to say that there were other aliens on Earth, aliens from the species who were controlling our planet. We call them Skins, because they have to wear these human-shaped suits to survive in Earth's atmosphere. They killed Nasedo. I fell in love with a human, a boy named Alex. It was unwise, I'd seen all the pain that Max and Liz had gone through, but I did it anyway. Tess killed him.

"She had the power to alter people's minds, make them forget things or see things which weren't there, convince them to do things. We thought he was going to Sweden; instead Tess made him translate a book we'd found in our ship, which gave instructions on how to use it to get back home. She seduced Max, wanting to return to our old lives, and got pregnant. Then all the mindwiping she was doing on Alex stopped working, and rather than let anybody find out what she'd done, she killed him and arranged a car accident to cover it up. Fortunately we figured out what she'd done before it was too late. She'd made a deal with K'Var, the leader of the Skins, to return home with the baby in exchange for her acquiescence to his rule.

"We all stayed behind when she left. Eventually she came back with the baby, which was a pure human and wasn't accepted on our world. The FBI were hot on our heels by then, drawn particularly by the ship Tess returned in, and they gave the baby up for adoption so he could have a normal life. Then Tess went to the military base and used her powers to blow it up. They only knew for sure about her, as she'd been caught on camera breaking out of there after the crash. So when they killed her in that base, we were free for a while."

Isabel wiped the last tears from her face and looked up at the others again.

"So when I saw Claire - and she looks exactly like Tess - I thought she'd betrayed us again. I was so angry... I was still angry about the first betrayal. Even though she died to save us, I never lost that anger with her. Neither did Liz. When she first came back to Earth, Liz threw her across the room much like I did with Claire just now.

"As for the story about how I got here. That's all true. Max, Michael and I were on a ship with Liz and Maria, Kyle and Jesse. Max and Liz are married now, Maria and Michael will probably get round to it one day. Kyle got involved with us despite our best efforts, but he's had the same problem Liz had after being healed by Max - they both developed powers like ours. So he came with us. And Jesse - Jesse's my husband. I lost my ring somewhere... and I told you about the storm already.

"So that's my story."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I knew it!" George crowed in the silence that followed Isabel's confession. "I knew that whole 'I'm an ordinary girl' story was bullshit!" she said, raising her fists in triumph.

She paused, taking in the expressions on all the faces turned in her direction. Her arms fell along with her spirits. "But...uh, I guess maybe this isn't the best time to talk about that," George added lamely.

"I, uh, I guess I should go change," George said, plucking at the bloody, bullet-riddled t-shirt she was still wearing. It was time to get out of sight. George hurried toward the door.

(But I was right!)

GEORGE EXITS

Yeah, right. That story was so ridiculous it had to be made up. Ok, sure, maybe it was true. Ripley's alien, Doc's alien...who else...Dean couldn't remember. Regardless.

"Huh, I think I saw that story line on 'Days of Our Lives' about 2 seasons ago. Was as boring and non-believable then as it is now."

Blaise shot Dean an accusing look. Whatever had happened a few minutes earlier, Isabel was clearly very distressed. Assuming her story was true, and Blaise was tempted to believe it, she didn't know whether her husband was dead or alive. She might not be the only one who'd gone overboard--assuming the ship hadn't sunk. His reaction had nothing to do with the fact that Isabel reminded him very much of Lily. Nothing at all.

"Aren't you one of the guys who claim to have appeared on the island in a puff of demonic smoke--and to be mighty demon hunters?"

Blaise mimed holding a microphone to his mouth. "Kettle, this is pot. Kettle, this is Pot. You are black. Repeat, you are black. Over."

Daniel took Isabel's story with a grain of salt, but it was a very small grain. After all, the Goa'uld (and the Asgard) posed as gods on earth thousands of years ago, and there was Martin (and his terrible television show), so it wasn't impossible for there to be aliens on earth.

(Of course it isn't. Look at the Doctor. Look at Ripley. All right, she's from the future, but the fact still stands.)

If Isabel had claimed that they'd stayed under the radar, Daniel would have doubted her. However, the story of the FBI chasing them – (And it probably wasn't the FBI, it was probably the NID or some other secret oversight agency) – gave her more plausibility.

Claire looking like this Tess person? Also probable. However, attacking first and asking questions later, well while Daniel could understand it, especially in the case of mistaken identity, he had to wonder about Isabel's strengths and stability if she would attack a clearly pregnant enemy, endangering the child.

Unfortunately, they didn't have the manpower to keep her under guard as well as the prisoners – whom were yet another issue that hadn't been talked about or dealt with properly – and she'd done more than most of these people whom he knew trusted him somewhat: Isabel told her story. She told the truth.

(Hopefully.)

Therefore Daniel actually chuckled at Blaise's remark. "He's right, Dean. Her story is just as plausible as yours. As any of ours, I'm sure. And lacking any lie detector equipment at the moment," Daniel paused and wondered where the Doctor was, "we'll have to take her word for it."

Daniel strolled over and sat down at the table across from Isabel. He waited until he had her attention fully. "Isabel, I'm Daniel Jackson. And right now, we're going to trust you and believe you. But, you are going to stay away from Claire. I think that it's best for both of you. As soon as possible, I'm going to have someone tell you -- and Sam and Dean and May," Daniel pulled his eyes away from Isabel long enough to include the brothers in his gaze, "all about this island and what we've learned so far."

He, of all people, wasn't without sympathy for a widow who believed she might have lost everything, and his voice was calm and soothing. "There are rooms and beds where you can rest. And then, later, if you're sincere about helping us, there is plenty to be done."

"Speaking of things to be done," Blaise said, "at some point we really ought to send someone to bring Ash back here. He's been down in the tunnel for an awfully long time now."

"I expect he'd really like a hot shower after all that time in the cold and the damp, not to mention some real food." (And he's probably going to be pissed at missing all the excitement....)

Isabel nodded and smiled.

"Thank you Daniel," she said. "I won't let you down again."

The disbelief from Dean had hurt, but Daniel's calm acceptance of her story reassured her greatly, and somehow George's amusement at her suspicions being right led Isabel to believe that maybe she could find a place with these people.

"You've worked with aliens before, haven't you?" she said, the realisation of the probable reason why Daniel was so calm about this coming to mind. "Other aliens, from other planets than mine. You must have done." She looked around. "And it's not just you either."

She sat up, wiped her eyes again.

"I'll stay away from Claire. I guess it must be like Michael, we found out that his human DNA was taken from this girl's grandfather, it freaked her out how they looked so similar. Maybe Tess' human DNA was from Claire's family. I'd ask you to pass on my apologies... but I don't think she's going to accept that. When you think it's time, I'll apologise myself."

Daniel smiled softly at Isabel's reference to working with aliens. "Let's just say that we have a few among us." He leaned forward, very serious. "This island isn't what it seems to be, and we've long ago established that we were all put here or brought here purposefully. The who, the why, all those questions still need to be answered.

"We can, and *will* talk more about this later, but," sitting back, Daniel turned his attention to the remainder of those gathered, "Right now, there's still more to be done to secure this place. We still need to perform inventory, establish watch rotas, and as much as it pains me to say, watch the kidnappees carefully. We don't know how Boone was programmed, and until we get a look at his file, we won't know."

"What about the women?" Faith asked. She sat on a table in the back, quietly munching on a piece of fruit, fully clothed again. Beside her, Alex rolled a guava around the table. The young girl was particularly quiet as well. Both Blaise and Faith reported to Daniel that her reaction to the shooting spree was one of surprise and worry.

Questioning Alex was another thing added to the list.

"What about them?"

"I mean, we got their files and shit right? What's in 'em?" Faith looked around the room, "Not that I expect anyone to tell me, I didn't mean that. I just meant, isn't that sort of thing in their file?"

"We didn't see it the first time," Daniel confessed, "But we'll be going over their records again with a fine tooth comb and with someone who can really help us."

"Drugs," Alex looked up although Daniel hadn't called her by name. "Drugs and tests, that's it. All that I know about. Bad drugs, bad tests, bad results, all so very ugly. And when the ugly turned the tables on them, they didn't like it very much.

"They're scared, all of them. Scared of you, all of you. You're stronger, you're smarter, you beat them and they can't beat you. Not in the long term. Bit off a lot more than they can swallow."

"Chew," Faith corrected automatically.

Alex shrugged and went back to guava rolling.

Daniel looked to Blaise, "Top of the list. Reporting back to those guarding the clearing, the rings and the tunnel, and then the beach. Also, bringing back personal belongings and anything that anyone might want brought back from Beach Camp. Faith, I'd like you and George to take the jeep and take care of that."

"Huh?"

"I need someone that I know can take care of themselves, and that the Beach Campers are familiar with. And I know that you and George work -- somewhat -- well together."

Faith shrugged, "Whatever. You're Big Man on Campus, Danny."

"So glad you remembered."

Sam listened quietly to Isabel's story. It was quite a story. (Aliens. That's a new one.) On the surface it seemed as made-up as his brother's callous comment -- which Sam valiantly refrained from laughing at -- suggested.

On the surface.

Isabel was clearly distraught. Sam believed that she believed every word. That meant that either her story was true or that Isabel was an insane psychic like Max. Max, who'd tried to kill Dean.

He had to tell Daniel. (Once Isabel is well out of earshot,) Sam resolved. Instead he said, "I was going to help John inventory the non-medical supplies, but priorities may have changed. How can we help?"

Daniel considered Sam's question. His initial reaction was to want to stonewall the younger man, but Locke had said they were trustworthy, and though the part of him that stopped trusting anyone (or anything) that hadn't proven himself (or itself) ten times over was strong, his gut told him that Locke was right.

"I could use someone to go back with Faith or George. That would free one of them up to go to Camp Serenity whenever Chris is ready and able to take them," Daniel said. Somehow, he just didn't think that anything, not even a major apocalpyse, would pull Damon away from Claire's side for a good long while.

"So, where do you want me to go, now?" Faith interrupted.

Daniel dropped his chin to his chest and exhaled. He could practically feel the energy rolling off of Faith. (I wonder if part of being a Slayer isn't also having ADHD.) "Why don't we wait for Sam and his brother to make their decisions and then you can figure it out among yourselves?

"Also," Daniel looked up at Sam, and then moved his gaze around to include everyone else, "There is the small matter of scouting the perimeter of this place out completely. Maybe a mile or two in every direction. Clear away any surprises."

OOC: Jumping the gun again? Yes, but I suspect I may spend the next three hours with Question Guy looking over my shoulder ~~and making me want to kill him,~~ so I'm going to have May throw this question out now. Doesn't need to be answered til after Dean and Sam make their decisions.

At the mention of another castaway being fetched, May set to rinsing the skillet clean again in case he had a hankering for eggs and bacon. Hey, it was only fair.

"I can handle perimeter sweeps," she said, keeping her eyes on the skillet or on Daniel and deliberately not looking at Isabel. "But speaking of surprises, Daniel - what do you want to do about last night's, uh, surprise? In case someone else on watch has a case of mistaken enemy?"

She kept it vague, unsure who else knew the whole story about the friendly guard monster yet.

Daniel felt more than a few curious gazes turn his direction at May's question.

He sank back in his chair and released a heavy sigh. "Apparently we have a guardian angel. Or a guardian ... something."

Suddenly, part of the Doctor's announcement sank in. He whipped his head around to stare at the man, "Did you say that Claire's in labor?"

May made a mental note: /Never say that things are calm or quiet around here EVER AGAIN./

"Yeah, I heard it too," she said, wondering why the hell she sounded so calm as she turned to the Doctor. "Last I checked, Molly was out cold. She tried to help Tara and knocked herself out. Somebody's tending to them right now." She didn't mention it was Chris, since no one had asked; he was probably frustrated at the dumping of secrets as it was.

She didn't look at Isabel. It didn't take a major leap of logic to figure out why Claire had probably gone into labor now of all times. She did want to talk to Dean, Sam, and Daniel (and maybe Faith) privately - and not just about the guard monster.

But if they really needed Molly, and if the redhead was in any shape to help... well, it wasn't like she'd be able to do anything short of look anxious and get in the way.

Dean's eyes had narrowed dangerously after Daniel's little speech about strategic planning (http://community.livejournal.com/crossing_lostrp/98840.html?thread=3274008#t3274008). Sam spoke up before his brother could lay into the oddly bookish soldier. "You're right, Daniel. Splitting resources makes sense." Although Dean fixed him with his patented death glare, Sam kept talking. "Just not now, okay? Dean and I will check the perimeter. Once this place is really, truly secure we can split up."

Before Dean could open his mouth Sam gave him his best "Let me handle this" look. He figured it had about a 50/50 chance of working.

Daniel tried to listen to Sam, while his brain still backtracked and processed the Doctor's announcement of Claire's labor and impending birth. Evidently, he wasn't the only one processing it, because a low murmur of conversation was beginning in the cafeteria.

(This place is better than either camp though, at any rate. And she's got two doctors with her now. Have to hope for the best.)

"Fine," Daniel agreed. He was far more concerned with getting this place secured and talking to the prisoners than continuing the briefing that, in his honest opinion, wasn't accomplishing much of anything. "There are radios in the security room. Rodney got them on a private frequency for us. Take one for each of you.

"And take Jon with you."

"Um, Daniel, security cameras, prisoners to interrogate -" Jon began.

"This is one of your strengths, Jon. Right after bathing programmed assassins of course," Daniel said. "Of course if you'd prefer ..."

"Daniel."

Daniel smirked a bit then looked to Sam, clearly the more reasonable and level headed of the brothers. "Take May too. She volunteered before anyone else. That's four of you and four directions, I'm sure you all can do the math." Daniel ignored the look warning look Jon gave him. He knew that the young man didn't like the idea of sending the brothers and May out to watch their sixes, but it was a show of trust that was necessary. Before it came to shouting in Dean's face and reading the man the riot act.

Which still might end up happening.

Daniel's attention turned to Faith. "And Faith?"

"Yeah, boss?" Faith practically bristled with energy.

"You and George are going on a road trip."

"Wow. Daddy's givin' us the keys to the car?"

"Don't push it."

Daniel turned his attention to May. "Before you take off, could you go and check on Molly?" He already knew that May was familiar or at least knew about whatever Chris was doing. Better to not expose the young man to just anyone's scrutiny.

So Daniel had also picked up on Chris's need for secrecy. Good, that made things easier. "All right. Where do you want me to meet you guys?" She addressed her question to Jon primarily, glancing over at Dean and Sam as well. Yeah, Dean was pissed off. She sighed. Maybe she'd get a chance to have an actual conversation with him later.

Jon still looked cranky, but seemed a little mollified when she asked him and not the other two. "Security room. We'll need to get radios anyway."

"Okay." She turned to Daniel. "I'll stop back here and let you know how Molly's doing. I figure she'll want to help no matter what, but it's going to depend on how she's feeling."

She hurried out the door and down the hallway back to the room she was sharing with Molly and Tara. She hoped it was safe to come in; even if Molly couldn't go anywhere, her backpack - and her web-shooters - were still in there.

May had the feeling she was going to need them.

OOC: May exits. Going to make another post, then will crash for the night.

OOC:ah-ha! I found the threads. Back on target. So sorry.

Dean was about ready to just say screw it all and leave. Trust went both ways and this group could just as easily be the bad guys as they could...or Isabel for that matter. Sam, however, beat him to the gun.

"Once this place is really, truly secure we can split up."

(Oh, I don't fucking thing so) Dean thought madly. If Sam thought for one moment that Dean was gonna let them be split up with these insane people...(Ok, well, it happened earlier and the pregnant woman took a hit...but...) Dean's thought was interrupted by Sam's glare. He knew what his brother was thinking, and he knew his brother was right, at least a little...Dean stared down at his coffee and began to get himself under control. Seeing Claire get tossed like that really messed him up. He hoped she was going to be ok.

The boys will be leaving for perimeter-checking duty shortly. When I think of something halfway interesting I'll wrap this up with a "characters exit" post.

Actually, Dean and Sam have found something interesting outside (http://community.livejournal.com/crossing_lostrp/100581.html). So, just wrapping this up with...

CHARACTERS EXIT

OOC: AGH! And the Net goes down for half an hour when I first tried to post this. Sorry for the delay. I'll be nonresponsive till maybe 11 EST as I have to run a build with someone looking over my shoulder.

May had been cleaning up the remnants of breakfast as Isabel talked, having a need to do SOMETHING useful in the meantime. The first time she'd walked away, the shooting had started; then the second time, Isabel had gone and attacked Claire. Every time she wandered off this morning, all hell broke loose and she was always too late to stop it.

"Huh, I think I saw that story line on 'Days of Our Lives' about 2 seasons ago. Was as boring and non-believable then as it is now."

"Shut up, Dean," May started to say, but Blaise beat her to the punch and she snickered in spite of herself. Dean looked insulted. "Come on, he's got a point there. Hello, Demon Express? I was right there and I know how nuts it sounds."

At least, in terms of story believability. Whether or not she believed Isabel's story, she still didn't think it justified attacking a pregnant lady - regardless of who she looked like.

"Demon Express doesn't sound so unbelievable from where I'm sitting," Faith said. "I had a friend who once went to a whole demon dimension and ..."

Noticing a few heads turning skeptically in her direction, as well as realizing the inappropriate timing of her comment, Faith shrugged. "Whatever. I'm just saying that with everything I've seen and heard in my life and all the weird shit we have gathered here, I'm just starting to think that we should keep an open mind about everything.

"That's not sayin' that you're off the hook," Faith looked pointedly at Isabel. "Even where I come from, and trust me, the streets were tough, cops with itchy trigger fingers could still get their asses rode hard for pulling some of that 'shoot first, questions later,' crap and they're whole purpose is 'Serve and Protect.' Not a cop, overreaction. You so need to chill and deal, all right?"

?Aren't you one of the guys who claim to have appeared on the island in a puff of demonic smoke--and to be mighty demon hunters? Kettle, this is pot. Kettle, this is Pot. You are black. Repeat, you are black. Over.""

/Oh, please./ Dean thought. "First, Dr. Pierson *saw* us appear in a puff of smoke above a demon sign. Second, I'm not saying Isabel's lying. I'm just saying the timing of her arrival (the day after we rescue the women) is awfully suspicious and then she attacks one of the very women who was originally captured...the pregnant one And then claiming her poor heart's soul is broken being the reason."

"Shut up, Dean." May said.

"What?! We come in with guns blazing and it's all 'don't trust the newbs'. Hot chick comes in, attacks one of your own, and responds with a sob story and your all...'It's ok. How about a hot shower, food, and foot massage. Poor thing.'" Dean finished pointedly looking at Blaise when saying the final words.

"Dean..." Sam warned, but Dean continued running his mouth. He agreed with his brother, but jeez. (Apparently I inherited all of the tact in the family.) He glanced at Blaise's big-ass gun. (And the brains.) "Have you not noticed the nice marine's P-90?"

OOC: Also stopping here so that Blaise can ~~kick Dean's ass~~ respond. I couldn't resist needling Dean a little, though.

"And your point would be what, exactly?" Blaise asked mildly. He was faintly amused by Dean's response and had no intention of being drawn into what his sensei called the Monkey Dance.

"First, she's a lot prettier than you are, which doesn't hurt." Blaise shrugged. "May not be fair, but there it is."

"Second, you might have noticed that I didn't immediately assume the worst about you either, whatever anyone else may have said or done. Not that a little skepticism is unreasonable--Ethan's proof enough of that."

"And third--I was referring your reaction to her story, nothing else. It may be a little soap operatic, but it's hardly the strangest story we've heard--or witnessed--in the last few weeks. It doesn't excuse her assault on Claire, but I think everyone--including Isabel--is aware of that."

The Doctor entered the Cafeteria and claped his hands, rubbing them together. "Ripley is doing well in one of the rooms, the bleeding's stopped so ther's no more fear of her blood eating through anthing... or anyone. Boone is unconscious and his burns are as treated as they can be under the circumstances. He's been strapped to a bed and monitored both medically, and by the security room. Scott and Ami are... out." He pointedly looked at the couple, sleeping in the Caf amidst the chaos. "George's amazing healing abilities took care of her, and Quentin is doing much better than expected. Damon's in need of some stitches, but the bleeding's stopped. I just passed someone in the hall who announced Claire is in the first stages of labor and someone decided to toss her like a ragdoll. Doctor Pierson is with her now, but someone should get Molly. I seem to recall she's midwived before."

The Doctor made the announcements general, but was walking up to the groun including Daniel and Blaise. They seemed to be clustered about the stranger George had brought in before chaos rained down on them all.

"I think we need to have a serious sit down with the former owners of this bit of real estate. Boone was obviously programed. But I'd like to know how. Unless he was naturally psychopathic, you cannot realistically hypnotise anyone to do something they wouldn't do normally, with lowered inhabitions. Quack like a duck, yeah. Put a bullet in their wife, child or self... not really."

"Now did I miss any of the injured? And hallo, I'm the Doctor." He held out his hand to the new woman.

Aiden arrived in the cafeteria just in time to hear absoultly nothing about anything, following the doctor's entrance. She was drier now, in clean scrubs, though her long hair was still damp, and she was in desperate need of another cup of coffee.

She strolled in with presence and went straight for the coffee pot. She filled a mug an took a long slow sip, her eyes closing in extecsy as if it was the best thing she ever tasted. Which was far from the truth. The coffee tasted like typical hospital grade, doctors lounge quiality, but still bad. And it was it's only particular kind of bad, different from pricent bad, or break room in the lab bad.

After her first heavenly sip she turned herself around and leaned back against the counter. She observed everyone in the room with a raised eyebrow.

"Geez." she said, noting the tension in the air."What the hell'd I miss? And who attacked Claire?"

"Long story," Daniel said with a slight shake of his head. At this rate they were going to need a white board and markers and flow charts to make certain that everyone knew everything they needed to know. Needed to know being the key phrase.

"New chick is actually an alien named Violeta or something. She was betrayed by this other alien chick who looks totally like Claire, so instead of asking questions, she assumed it was the alien bitch and decided to beat up the pregnant woman," Faith supplied. "And oh yeah, she's telekinetic and who knows what the hell else."

Daniel blinked at Faith and sighed. "All right, maybe not so long."

Dean was about to respond to Blaise when The Doctor walked in, which was just fine with him. He really wasn't in the mood to argue. They could trust Isabel/Vilandra/AlienQueen if they wanted to. He'd seen her throw a pregnant woman across the room, quite likely causing her to go into labor. Ok, so she was about ready to drop anyway, but that's not the point. There are things even Dean wouldn't do. So, with one last look at her, Dean got up.

"Sam, how about finishing the perimeter check Faith and I started last night? We didn't stay out long for lack of proper communication back here, and because we found the jeep, but there are still places that need checking out."

"Wait," Daniel said before Dean could leave the room. "We're trying to get back on task here and do this in an organized fashion. I'd appreciate it if you would stay and take part, and it would be helpful to make certain that no two people are doing the same task while yet another task goes unclaimed or forgotten."

"As I was saying earlier, I could use someone to go back to the Beach Camp with Faith or George and use some people to do a perimeter sweep.

"And no, this is not an effort to separate you from your brother. This is strategical planning. You have weapons, you know how to use them, and you know how to defend yourselves. The wisest course of action is to keep all of our fighters, warriors and soldiers equally distributed."

(And if you're going to hang around, you will learn to work well with others, Dean Winchester. Team work isn't just about family, and that's a lesson that you need a crash course in. Yesterday.)

[OOC: Which brings us back to here (http://community.livejournal.com/crossing_lostrp/98840.html?thread=3262232#t3262232)]

Aiden raised a 'What the...?' eyebrow as she told the tale.

"Uh huh." she replied in the most convinced voice she could muster. She took another slow sip of coffee and glared at Isabel over her coffee cup. She swallowed and then made her way over to the table Isabel and company were sitting at. Slow heavy steps. And even though there was a graceful swing to her hips her attitude was all business. The kind of attitude a woman had to have when she was alone in cell with a psychotic killer in her face bragging about how much damage he could do before another cop could get to her, and she didn't flinch. It wasn't arrogance but self preservation. Never show fear. No, alien or not Isabel didn't ruffle Aiden's feathers. The fact that she was just sitting there and not locked up with the key thrown away did.

She stopped at the table's edge and eyed Isabel.

"Is that how it went down?" she asked, lips pursed.

"And hallo, I'm the Doctor," said the man who'd burst into the room, bouncing with energy and reporting on a large amount of things which were evidently being done elsewhere. Isabel found herself momentarily taken aback by him; he was so vibrant and alive, in a way that very few people she'd ever encountered had been.

"Isabel Evans," Isabel said, hesitantly. "I thought there were several doctors..."

The woman who approached as Isabel was saying this caught her attention. Slow, confident steps projecting an aura of power and authority. She reminded Isabel of Congresswoman Whitaker.

Don't be ridiculous, she told herself. This woman isn't a Skin. You're just getting paranoid.

"Is that how it went down?" the woman asked. Her tone made it clear that this was a woman who was used to getting answers.

"Faith missed out most of the details, but essentially, yes." She paused for a moment, regarding this woman carefully. "If you saw someone who looks exactly like the woman who killed your boyfriend, would you hesitate just on the offchance that there's someone else in the world who looks exactly the same?"

Isabel decided not to mention that there was indeed someone else in the world who looks exactly like Tess, although Tess' duplicate's radically different hairstyle and numerous piercings tended to allow people to distinguish between them.

Much as with Isabel's own duplicate. For the first time in nearly two years, she found herself wondering what the other Vilandra was up to. But this wasn't helping.

"I don't expect anybody to excuse what I did. But I'm not a psycopathic killer."

"No I wouldn't." Aiden paused for a moment then slammed her coffee mug down on the table and put her hands on either side. She ignored the hot liquid that sloshed out and leaned in towards Isabel, staring her down.

"I might hesitate on the fact that she was obviously pregnant with a child who didn't deserve to be murdered for something it didn't do." Her Brooklyn accent was heavy and judging.

Isabel stared back, right into this woman's eyes. Now that she'd passed the emotional peak of thinking Tess was still alive and had betrayed them again, her equilibrium had returned and a lifetime of experience with much more intimidating people asserted itself.

"As I said, I don't expect anybody to excuse my actions," she said. "I have explained what happened. That is all I can do. I don't have my brother's powers; I can't heal Claire's bruises, neither can I reassure her that she is safe from me now that I know who she is. I hope someone will tell her that, but I don't expect her to believe it."

Aiden didn't back down from Isabel's stares, she too was used to dealing with intimidating people. Aiden gave the woman credit for not cowering under her NYPD glare, obviously this wasn't her first time in the hot seat. The alien thing was sounding a little more plausible. Too bad there was no way to check to see if Isabel had a rap sheet.

"I don't believe it either. You assaulted two people this morning. The only way she'll be safe from you is when your behind bars where you belong." Ok so maybe Aiden was over doing it a little. But is wasn't like she could turn it over to the DA and be done with it. They were there own little society on this God forsaken island and they had to maintain order. If nothing else she wanted Isabel put down a peg, put the fear of God in her and get some control over this loose cannon.

She straightened up and turned to look at everyone assembled.

"And what the hell is she doing sitting here. We got Boone who was brain washed tied to bed and then this overgrown cheerleader deliberity and purposefully tries to kill two people and she's just sitting here? What is wrong with you people that you didn't put her away with the other psychopaths?"

"That's enough." Daniel's voice was quiet but firm. Those who knew him recognized the hard, inflexible edge beneath the soft spoken tones. It was a tone honed in diplomatic discussions and rotundas, one that got the point across without a shout or a loud word.

"We have Boone tied up because he is unresponsive and we cannot communicate with him. Given his current state, we have no way of knowing if or when he might try such a thing again. Boone is restrained as much for his own safety as for ours," Daniel said coolly.

"Isabel reacted irrationally, and foolishly, yes, but she's given a plausible explanation for her actions, whether or not it excuses them. And yes, in this place, actually even outside of this place, her explanation is plausible. No one has said that she is free and clear, and it is understood that what she did was wrong and unacceptable.

"But this is not Brooklyn and you're not walking the beat or hauling in a drug dealing perp or a suspected murderer to your little ten by ten room with bad lighting to play good cop and bad cop. We don't have the time, and we don't have the resources. If you have a problem with her walking free, then fine, you get to be her personal babysitter."

Daniel recognized Aiden's attitude and bearing; she might not have identified herself as a cop, but she was law enforcement on some level. Right now, it didn't matter which. The rules were different here, and their behaviors had to be different here.

"Now, unless you have some way to disprove her story, I would strongly suggest that you leave your threats of arrest and imprisonment to a time and a place where they might actually happen, if we ever get rescued, and if we ever get out of here.

"We have enough of a problem dealing with the prisoners that we already have, that we don't need to create more. Unless I suppose that you have a plan in line for what we should do with them for the next six months? Or ten? Or three years?" Daniel's timeframe was harsh, but clearly the woman was one of those still hanging onto her delusions of a rescue coming in a few more day when it should have been blatantly obvious by now that such a thing was not going to happen.

"The choice is yours: back down or be her personal guard, but we've all made our choice and moved on. Maybe you should consider doing the same."

It wasn't open for discussion or debate. Daniel looked away from the woman and turned to the Doctor, "I'd like a moment of your time, in a bit, please, Doctor?"

Now this was a development. Other than self defense, accident, caught in the crossfire, or protection, the tossing about of pregnant females was not something to be let go. But then, Daniel was not intervening. The Doctor would withhold judgement until he got the whole story. Faith's brief explinationneeded a bit of fleshing out.

"There are at least four doctors here, by education and profession. But I'm THE Doctor. And it sounds like you've got quite a story. Looks like the ranks of the non-humans are swelling. We're still the minority though. Must be that home turf advantage."

"I'd like a moment of your time, in a bit, please, Doctor?" Daniel was requesting.

"Certainly. Time is something I find myself having both too much and too little of lately. Whatever you need."

Aiden didn't flinch but did turn to listen to Daniel respectfully, but she still folded her arms and pouted in defiance. She couldn't help thinking though, that Daniel and Mac would get along swimmingly.

"But this is not Brooklyn and you're not walking the beat or hauling in a drug dealing perp or a suspected murderer to your little ten by ten room with bad lighting to play good cop and bad cop. And what did he think he was doing right now? Aiden was too pleased with Daniel's response to concern herself with her blown cover. This was the least she was hoping for, to be able to know someone was willing and ready to take charge. Aiden knew she'd over stepped things, but at some point a hierarchy needed to be established. And considering Isabel's alien trigger finger, Aiden wanted to be damn sure Isabel knew she was low girl on the totem pole. She hoped it would help keep her in line.

She didn't like all of Daniel's 'ifs' and looked away briefly till that part of the speech was over.

Aiden sighed as Daniel wrapped things up. SHe considered keeping tabs on Isabel but knew it was impossible to do sucessfully by herself.

"Fine." she agreed, dropping her arms to her side in the form of submission. "But I know what it does to people to bury a child." She knew all two well what it was like to stand over a tiny coffin and bury your future. She wouldn't let that happen here. Over her dead body.

"If she hurts Claire or the baby again I'll put a bullet in her head." She turned to Isabel. "No hesitation, no trial, no regrets." She pursed her lips then relaxed. She got a tea towel and cleaned up the spilt coffee on the table. She collected her cup and went back over to the pot, refiling her cup. Then she hopped up to sit on the counter and crossed her legs. She was quiet, she'd gotten her point across and as far as she was concerned the subject was dropped. But she would keep an eye on Isabel, make no mistake about that.

As far as Daniel was concerned she had respect for him. He'd shown himself a good leader. She felt a little sorry for him. She wasn't sure what he did in life, but she knew it was never easy to deal with NYPD dectives when they were working. But in truth she'd let them all off easy, if they thought she was rough God help them if she had had her parterner with her. They hadn't been called 'Bonnie and Clyde with badges' for nothing.

Way to make a good first impression, Isabel thought to herself. Think before you go off on an anger-fuelled rampage again.

Fortunately there weren't any other dead people Isabel would like to kill the moment she saw them again.

Well, maybe Whitaker, but killing her once was quite enough.

She listened to Daniel overrule the cop - of course she was a cop, it was all over her poise and bearing - with a growing respect for him. It was clear that he didn't like what she'd done, and didn't exactly trust her, but he also knew what he thought was right, and what needed to be done, and he didn't let anything get in the way of it.

And he'd accepted her story. To have such a calm and evidently intelligent man believe her made Isabel feel significantly better, although she feared the gnawing guilt which was developing over her attack on Claire would be with her for a long time.

And so it should be, part of her mind said.

This Doctor character claimed to be an alien as well. It was plausible, and he seemed friendly enough. Probably hadn't heard about what she'd done yet.

But she wasn't going to go asking for something to do again. Not with the cop staring at her like that. Idly she drew a sad face on the table with her finger, the colour of the surface changing to a rather sorrowful blue under her touch. She regarded it for a moment, then swept her hand across it and erased it. No point in frivolous doodling, either.

"So, what's the distance on those radios?" Faith asked, turning from playful and teasing to serious and sober in the blinking of an eye. "It'd be good to have one, if there's one to spare, for me and G to check back in."

"Ask Rodney," Daniel replied simply.

Faith's eyebrows rose. "And who's gonna translate?" At Daniel's less than amused look, she held up her hands in surrender. "I'm just sayin' is all."

She thought about it for a minute. With a tarp of some sort, and some rope, they could load the jeep up pretty good with people's personal belongings. Claire, especially would probably be wanting some of her stuff for comfort reasons. In her head, she began to compile a list of the survivors there at the facility and how much stuff they had back on the beach.

It would take more than one trip.

"Before you leave, I'll explain to you how to work the pillar," Daniel said. "That way you can send some equipment and personal belongings back without overloading the jeep. It's also a method of sending along any other people who might want to come here."

"Oh come on, real food, hot showers, we can't keep this place a secret?"

"Faith."

Faith shrugged, "So, what does everybody want me to bring back?"

Fifteen minutes and a lot of writing later, Faith balled up the paper she'd been making her list on. "Got it. Bring back everything. Don't any of you people travel light?"

With that, she headed off to find George and attempt to understand Rodney.

FAITH EXITS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Isabel] Exposition Time

(frozen comment) [George] I Knew It (tag everyone in cafeteria #1)

(frozen comment) [DEAN] Yeah, Right

(frozen comment) [Blaise] Yeah, Right

(frozen comment) [Daniel] It Wasn't A Weather Balloon

(frozen comment) [Blaise] Speaking of things to be done...

(frozen comment) [Isabel] Things to do (tag Daniel, cafeteria)

(frozen comment) [Daniel] Things to do

(frozen comment) [Sam] Things to do (tag Daniel)

(frozen comment) [Daniel] Suggestions

(frozen comment) [Mayday] Suggestions

(frozen comment) [Daniel] Expect the Unexpected

(frozen comment) [Mayday] I Jinxed It, Didn't I?

(frozen comment) [Sam] Intervention

(frozen comment) [Daniel] Move Out, Campers

(frozen comment) [Mayday] Move Out, Campers

(frozen comment) [Dean] Intervention

(frozen comment) OOC note

(frozen comment) Re: OOC note

(frozen comment) [Mayday] Yeah, Right

(frozen comment) [Faith] Could Be

(frozen comment) [Dean] Yeah, Right

(frozen comment) [Sam] Yeah, Right

(frozen comment) [Blaise] Yeah, Right

(frozen comment) [Doctor] Updates and uproars

(frozen comment) Re: [Aiden] Updates and uproars

(frozen comment) [Daniel, Faith] The Short Story

(frozen comment) [Dean] I need some air (tag cafeteria)

(frozen comment) [Daniel] There's No I in Team

(frozen comment) Re: [Aiden] But there's a 'me' if you rearrange the letters

(frozen comment) [Isabel] Pedantic discussion of management cliches aside

(frozen comment) Re: [Aiden] Coulda Shoulda Woulda

(frozen comment) [Isabel] Coulda Shoulda Woulda

(frozen comment) Re: [Aiden] The law in these here parts...

(frozen comment) [Daniel] . . . is not to hang 'em without a trial

(frozen comment) [Doctor] Time, I'm all about time.

(frozen comment) Re: [Aiden] now there's an idea

(frozen comment) [Isabel] Unpopular girl

(frozen comment) [Faith] Let's Hit the Road