regency au } { of eliminating threats and rallying the troops

[arsion]

Surgeon: [dragging himself back to the lab after nearly being killed by his old friend, he goes to try and find some remaining serum that helps him heal and gets the extended life. However, the injuries are making it hard to move through the main lab]

Lizzie: [and while he doesn't hear anything, the second he trips the magical alarm, the sound starts echoing in her head and her eyes widen as she turns to Ben] Where's your aunt? Someone is in the lab.

Ben: [focuses a moment] watching over Uncle Peter. I'll go get her if you let Hope know.

Lizzie: [nods] Okay, I'm on it. [and she will head off in the direction she last sensed Hope's magic]

Ben: [and he'll head upstairs and quietly enter the bedroom, trying not to be a big disturbance] Aunt Kate?

Kate: [looks up at the sound, taking her attention from her husband to her nephew] What happened?

Ben: The magical alarm that Lizzie set at the lab went off.

Kate: [glances to Malia and Laura]

Malia: [nods] Go. We'll keep an eye on him.

Kate: [nods and goes to grab her gear] Let's go.

Ben: [nods, then leads her back down to the main entranceway] Should I summon Lady Allison?

Kate: How many do we have?

Ben: Five once Hope joins us. She can also send a message to Parrish to reroute the knights to meet us there.

Kate: [she shakes her head] We won't need that many. It might be better just to have someone with outright strength. What wolves do we still have on the grounds?

Ben: Of fighting age - Myself, Raf, Uncle Derek, Aunt Cora, Sir Isaac, Lady Malia, and a few reserve knights.

Kate: Derek, Cora and Malia need to be here for Peter. Go grab Isaac, if he hasn't left to get Lydia yet.

Ben: Yes, ma'am. [and he's off like a flash up to where Allison and Isaac were]

Kate: [and she'll go meet up with the witches and Rafael who she assumed was already coming]

Allison: [is giving Isaac instructions for going to meet Lydia as Bena approaches. She turns her attention to the younger werewolf] Ben?

Ben: [bows slightly] Lady Argent, your aunt requests for Sir Isaac to attend her. The magical alarm at the lab of the dread doctors has gone off.

Allison: [trusts that her aunt has a plan and she nods before turning to her husband] I want you back in one piece.

Isaac: That is my plan. [and he'll lean in to kiss her]

Allison: [kisses him back with a smile] Be safe, all of you.

Isaac: We will. [and he will go put a hand on Ben's shoulder, and then they're off back to where Kate and the others are]

Kate: [and with that their motely crew will head back to the lab. She takes the lead and with her sword drawn, slowly makes her way through until she finds the doctor in question]

Surgeon: [and he is leaning against a table, his arm revealed with years of being stitched back together. On the ground, an injector fell with green liquid and broken glass lay next to his discarded helmet. His face looks like a decaying mess with matted hair and drooping flesh]

Kate: [smirks as she makes her way closer, sword held out in front of her. in French] What's wrong, Marcel? Your efforts to extend your life running out? [her head tips to the side] Do you remember me?

Surgeon: [he's struggling to breathe, but he can give a painful chuckle] You're too late, Argent.

Kate: I know, you managed to make your little chimera. But I've destroyed the original body, so after we free Liam, La Bete will never grace this earth again. And it doesn't seem like he was very happy to see you.

Surgeon: Success. Now his time. Liam no more. Only the Beast.

Kate: We'll see about that. Well ... we won't. But I will.

Surgeon: No, you won't. You will fail. Only one can stop him now. And it is not you.

Kate: Why so sure? [she's not going to reveal her banshee in her back pocket quite yet] I'm very resourceful.

Surgeon: [and he's going to just raise his hand, pointing at the mosaic that on the wall behind them]

Kate: [and she turns to look, taking in the sight of the two creatures locked in battle. She recognizes La Bete, but it takes a second to figure out the other. but when she does, she grins] How fortunate for me that I know where to find one.

Surgeon: So does he. [a coughing laugh]

Kate: [grins as she lifts her sword and prepares to drive it down into him] Thank you. Now I know exactly where he's going.

Surgeon: That won't save you.

Kate: Maybe not. And this is likely far more mercy than you deserve. But I would prefer to end this once and for all. For all the children you tortured, I hope they drag you straight to Hell. [and with that she will jam the sword through his neck, making sure she got somewhere vulnerable]

Surgeon: [is very dead now]

Isaac: [is looking around since he hasn't been here] This is where they've worked all these years?

Kate: [nods as she turns to face them] Apparently they've been right under our noses the entire time. [turns to the witches] I need one of you to send a message to Marcel. Warn him that La Bete has risen and that he is coming for Danielle. He will know who I mean. The other, I need you to safely destroy the corpse.

Hope: [ nods] I have a crystal that allows me to contact Marcel right away back in my room. I can go back now?

Lizzie: And I'll handle the body?

Hope: Be careful when you set it on fire. The last one ... exploded.

Ben: We can tear this place down after.

Hope: [nods and goes to head back to her room to find the crystal in question, while Lizzie moves forward to deal with the body]

Kate: [nods and as she starts to step forward, her foot catches on the walking stick left behind. It's heavier than she expected it to be, so she lifts it up and tests it] This feels like pure iron.

Raf: Doesn't iron hurt supernatural things, Lizzie?

Lizzie: Some of them. Ghosts certainly don't like it.

Kate: [tosses it gently in her hand and her eyes widen] That sentimental bastard.

Ben: [confused] What is it?

Kate: I think it's part of the stake that originally killed Sebastien the first time.

Isaac: But we're not killing Liam, right?

Kate: We're going to have to find a way to separate Sebastien from Liam, which is why your wife wanted to send you for Lydia. But I think we're going to need to pick her up on the way. La Bete is heading to Orleans.

Isaac: I can finish getting instructions from her, then, and run ahead so she's ready for your arrival.

Kate: [nods] Thank you, Isaac. [glances back to Lizzie] Are you ready?

Lizzie: Yeah, we're going to do this from back here. [and she steps back, lifting her arms over her head in a circle before leaning forward like she's blowing a kiss] Igna lux. [and with that a column of fire pours from her palms towards the body]

Isaac: [and as he hears the explosion from where he came from, he keeps going to arrive back at Allison's side]

Allison: [looks up when she feels him coming] Is everything taken care of?

Isaac: Dead and destroyed. La Bete is heading to Orleans after someone named Danielle. Hope is sending a message ahead to a Marcel to find her. We need to pick up Lydia on our way.

Allison: Okay. Then I'll finish gathering our things and hopefully we can leave as soon as Kate is ready.

Isaac: We will probably be joined by the ones from Hope's pack.

Allison: Good. We'll probably need as much firepower as we can get.

Isaac: Do you want me to run ahead and prepare Lydia so she is ready to go when you arrive?

Allison: Yes, that's a good idea. We'll be fine here. Be safe.

Isaac: I will. [and he will go to give her a long, deep kiss to last her until they reunite in France]

Allison: [kisses him back, before pulling back with a smile] I'll see you soon.

Parrish: [and later, after Isaac is gone and Kate returns, he returns with the knights. He's angry, but informs Derek that the last Dread Doctor is dead before going in to find his wife and the others]

Kate: [will have immediately returned to her husband after changing her clothes to remove the blood so that's probably where all of the hale adults are gathered for an update]

Parrish: [and he'll storm in] Lord Hensington, that son of a bitch.

Laura: [turns and looks at him] What?

Parrish: The third doctor was Lord Hensington. That's why we never heard of him before back when Liam tried to pay debts with your silver.

Laura: [huffs] So that's how far back this goes, then.

Malia: [looks increasingly uncomfortable with that prospect, keeps her attention on her father]

Parrish: That means the lab here is his. Who knows what he did to Liam before he left with Sir Jacob. For all we know, Sir Jacob could have been a part of this and manipulated the Duke to give him a new squire just as this was happening!

Kate: We didn't identify the first but the Surgeon is a man named Marcel who hid La Bete's crimes when he was alive. He's dead now as well but he gave me enough information that I know Sébastien - and thus Liam - are going back to Orleans.

Parrish: [looks to Laura] Then I need to go with them.

Laura: [nods] Of course. Be careful.

Kate: I had Hope send word ahead to the hellhound there. Apparently Sébastien will be coming for her.

Parrish: Then we don't have time to waste.

Kate: [nods] We can prepare to leave today. Gather whoever you think we'll need.

Parrish: [nods] I'm also going to check on the other chimera. He should be safe more, but he may not wish to go to Orleans knowing Sebastian will be there.

Laura: He can stay here as long as he needs. Take Hope with you. He seems to trust her.

Parrish: I will. I think it's safe to release him. Whose wing should I give him room in?

Laura: I'm not sure. Let me come with you and we'll figure it out.

Parrish: [looking at Peter] will he be okay without you?

Laura: Malia and Kate are here. I'll come back once we're finished.

Parrish: [nods, and he will walk beside her as they head down to the cells] I really hope Liam doesn't remember any of this. It's already having an impact his marriage.

Laura: Did you think it wouldn't? Even if Peter hadn't been the one attacked, the news that her husband has been possessed all this time is shock enough.

Parrish: Liam grew up in their lab long before I even was brought there. But he's never shown any kind of evil like what the doctors or this Sébastien are capable of.

Laura: I know. I'm not saying this is his fault. But it brings up uncomfortable questions for her of what was real and what wasn't.

Parrish: Which are valid. Those two never seem to get a break.

Laura: Hopefully with the Doctors gone for good, maybe they finally will.

Parrish: Hopefully.

Jonathan: [and when they get downstairs, Jonathan is no longer invisible, but he's leaning back against the bars of the cage, looking out the hole in the cell next to him. Even with the cold air, the young man was comfortable with the air warming up around him]

Laura: [smiles at him as well as Landon] We have some good news and we have some bad news. All the Doctors are dead and disposed of in ways they won't be able to return from, but La Bete escaped. Fortunately, we know where he's going, so our forces are moving to Orleans to take care of it.

Jonathan: [he'll stand and turn to face them, his eyes glowing orange since he's using his powers] I don't have to go with you, do I? [if Laura looks carefully, she'll realize that his jaw and eyes look familiar, almost like looking 20 years into the past]

Laura: [shakes her head] No, not at all. We wanted to offer you a room here until things have settled, but we weren't sure which wing you would be most comfortable in.

Jonathan: I don't come from much, Lady Hale. I can stay in the stables or kitchen and be comfortable and out of the way.

Laura: Of course not. You are our guest, so you will be treated as such. But is there anyone here you would prefer to be close to?

Jonathan: [looked over at Landon, then Parrish] If Sir Landon is staying, I would like to be near him and Lady Josie. If not, perhaps near Lord Parrish?

Laura: [looks over to Landon and Josie] Hope, at least, I believe is returning home. You are, of course, welcome to stay if you desire.

Landon: [glances to Josie to see what she's feeling]

Josie: Lady Kate expressed a need for witches to help in her quest against La Bete. I believe Lizzie and Raf are also returning, and Ben will always follow Hope.

Landon: And we're going to have to go home eventually. Might as well go now.

Laura: [nods] Then I'll make sure a room is ready in our wing.

Parrish: I'm going as well, but you'll be safe here.

Jonathan: If the Doctors are gone, and Malivore is dead, I'm no longer in any danger.

Laura: All the same, we pride on keeping our guests in one piece. [ she smiles] If you come with me, we'll get you settled.

Parrish: I'll be right behind you. [he's just going to check in with Landon and Josie]

Jonathan: [nods, and when the cage door is open, he will quietly follow behind her]

Laura: [takes him upstairs and settles him into one of the guest rooms, with a full bath so he can bathe, get fresh clothes, etc.]

Landon: [turns back to Parrish with a nod] So we should be packing to leave then?

Parrish: Yes. Kate is leading this expedition since La Bete got a head start. I'm going to make sure Liam has someone he trusts there when we free him. [because they will free him]

Jonathan: [he doesn't have any other clothes since the set he had before Hope bought him new clothes were ragged and left behind. So he's going to try and clean his clothing in the tub (what are baths?) unless anyone stops him.]

Landon: [nods] Alright. Then we'll prepare to go home, then. [legacies kids are totally on board for the "free him" plan, Kate is the one you possibly have to worry about Parrish]

Laura: [she'll show him the spare clothing they keep in the guest room just in case. He's skinnier than Gabe and Grayson, but they're about the same height, so they should fit well enough with a belt]

Parrish: [he knows. That's why he's going]

Jonathan: I've never owned anything this grand. [he's not going to touch the nice clothing until he's clean]

Laura: Well, this is what we have, so unfortunately you'll have to make due with our fancy attire. [gentle teasing] Your accent sounds like you're from Savoy. Do you know if you have any family still there?

Jonathan: No. I'm not from there. I'm actually Swiss, but my mom sent me to Savoy to find an apprenticeship as there was no real craftsmen in our land, and she didn't want me to go to Rome. I wanted to learn woodworking.

Laura: That's a good trade. Were you able to find a master before the Doctors interfered?

Jonathan: He already had too many apprentices. The bread maker let me sleep near the oven as long as I kept it going all night so it would be ready to bake when he woke. I also fetched him water and made deliveries. He taught me some things, but it only lasted a year.

Laura: [nods] Well, if you remember where your family lived before you left, we can try and get word to her. I can send a knight with a message.

Jonathan: I do, m'lady. I come from a land called Guilder. My mother is probably worried about me.

Laura: [Guilder. Gilderland. Hmm.] If you write the letter, I will ensure it finds her hand.

Jonathan: [and he smiles] Thank you. I'll go take that bath now.

Laura: [nods] I'll be with my uncle if there's anything you need. Just ask one of the servants and they will point you in the right direction.

Jonathan: I will. [and he's going to put his hand in the water and warm it back up before he takes off his cloths and climbs in]

Laura: [and she will return to Peter, Kate and Malia.]

Kate: [is lingering, hoping that Peter will come to consciousness just long enough for her to say goodbye - not for good just for now - and let him know what's happening. To Malia:] Do you want to come?

Malia: [shakes her head] I should stay here with my father. He needs me.

Peter: [he's been trying, but the pain is keeping him from being able to focus on waking up]

Kate: [nods, she won't force her] We don't have any answers yet. Don't jump to the worst conclusions just yet.

Malia: I think we have the answer that matters. [but that's just her. Laura returns and she'll take her uncle's free hand, testing his pain level and trying to see if she can take some of it]

Peter: [oh that feels good. It still hurts, but this is something his stubbornness can push through. He groans, his eyes opening barely a crack]

Kate: [and the conversation is forgotten, all the women's attention turning to the man in the bed] Peter?

Peter: [his breathing is ragged, but to be real so is the tissue around his lungs] What... what happened?

Kate: The Doctors were successful. La Bete is back but we've destroyed the Doctors and we know where it's going. I'm going to France to meet Marcel and Danielle tonight. [unless he protests and wants her to stay, she will, but she wants to see the end of those through]

Peter: Not... not Liam. Help...

Kate: We know. We know. [she reaches up and brushes the hair away from his face] We're going to fix this. But for now, you rest and heal.

Peter: [shakes his head, making him wince] Different... face.

Kate: Sebastien?

Peter: [barely nods] Not... what we... think.

Kate: Is it that he's an alpha?

Peter: [is frustrated because he can't speak without struggling] Magic.

Kate: [nods] We're bringing our own magic with us. And we have a secret weapon or two. [she can feel his frustration but doesn't know how else to soothe him]

Peter: [he's hitting the end of his energy, so he turns his head toward Malia's scent] Go.

Malia: [shakes her head] I'm not leaving you.

Peter: I'm... not going. Liam... needs you... [and yup, his energy gone, he's going to pass back out]

Malia: [stares at him before shaking her head] I'm not going.

Laura: Are you sure?

Malia: [nods] I'd only be a liability. And without knowing how much of things were La Bete and how much was Liam, I'm only going to be ammunition that it doesn't need. So no, I'm staying here. [and she's going to go leave to take a break]

Parrish: [enters, looking at Kate] Everyone's packing up to go. Horses or carriage?

Kate: Horses will be faster, with a cart for whatever else we need to transport. [she pauses, turning to press a kiss to Peter's forehead] I'll be back soon. [and with that, she will turn to head out to the stables]

Parrish: [and he will go to kiss Laura] I'll be safe. [and he'll look at Malia] We'll bring him home, I promise.

Malia: [nods but doesn't respond otherwise]

Laura: [kisses him back] Good luck.

Parrish: [and he will follow Kate to get everyone ready to go.]

Ben: [but before he goes, he promised his mother he would say goodbye, so he goes looking for her and his father]

Cora: [is assessing the damage, trying to see what will need to be fixed now, and what can be dealt with later]

Stiles: [Ben finds him first, still watching the little ones so they are distracted. He will hug his son goodbye, give him a few words of advice, and tell him where to find his mother.]

Ben: [and he'll go to look for her, smiling when he finds her] Mother!

Cora: [turns to him with a smile] Leaving already?

Ben: Aunt Kate doesn't want to let La Bete get too far ahead. He's heading to Orleans, so the others want to also get home to defend their people. Uncle Parrish is coming with us too.

Cora: [nods before leaning in to give him a hug] Be careful. Listen to your aunt and uncle.

Ben: [hugs her back, tightly] Of course. And I'll send word when we reach Orleans so you know we got there safely.

Cora: Good. Are you sure you're ready for a fight like this?

Ben: No, but as Uncle Derek says, going in believing you're ready can lead to easy mistakes, where if you're cautious and pay attention, you'll make yourself ready.

Cora: [nods] Good. I love you. Travel safe.

Ben: I will. And I'll tell Dina you're both doing well without us. [grins]

Cora: [laughs] I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear it.

Ben: Love you! [he waves as he makes himself step away, then he leaves to catch up with everyone at the stables]

Kate: [and off they go to head to France]