Room 406, late at night

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel was pretty certain that Lonnie was in some way responsible for the nightmares of the past week. And knowing that, it made it a little easier to close her eyes as it got dark and the week caught up with her. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

The dream of the control room started again. But this time, as Kivar walked into the room Vilandra turned away. "No Lonnie. Not this time," Isabel said. "Show yourself. I know you're here somewhere."

[ooc: sorry for the mild spamming. RL happened. Post locked to Lonnie and NFB]

Comments

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"Wellllll. Someone thinks she's grown a pair."

Isabel's mirror image was leaning against the wall, but the body language was off-- far too relaxed, much more arrogant. "So, didja figure it out all by yourself?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No," Isabel said simply. "My friends helped. But you wouldn't know about friends would you?"

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"Don't be so sure." She drew it out, still identical but the voice was pure New York, shuuuur-uh. "Rath's still around. And I could get Ava to come runnin' if I call. Anybody else is just dead weight." Lonnie folded her arms, studying Isabel. "But I can see how you could use all the help you can get, princess."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"The princess is dead. She died back on Antar," Isabel said cooly. "I'm not clinging to the past."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"Riiiight. You're all about the movin' forward." Lonnie pushed off the wall, and as she did, her appearance changed. Hair shortened, eyes darkened with liner, and a tattoo of four connected circles appeared on her bare arm. "But we both know that ain't so. She's here in this room, in two separate bodies. And she'd be back on Antar, if your brother weren't a dick."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel eyed her, raising an eyebrow at what she assumed was Lonnie's true appearance. "Interesting look. And I'm sure Max had a good reason for whatever it is that he did that pissed you off. You're just going to have to deal with life on earth."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"I'm thinkin' not." Lonnie began circling Isabel again, the way she had when she impersonated Vilandra. "I'm thinkin' I got a beef with your brother, and therefore with you. And I know I'm not dying on this pissant planet. I remember." She took a step forward, and all the arrogance drained away into an intent focus on Isabel's face. "Her. Vilandra. What we were. Who we were. And I ain't givin' that up for nothing."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Who we were," Isabel said. "That's the part you don't seem to be getting. We're not her. Do you really think you're going to go back there and they'll welcome you with open arms? You seem a little too rough around the edges to be royalty."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"I can be you as easy as I can be her," Lonnie said, in a perfect imitation of Isabel's voice, then carefully sniffled. "It was so sad, Zan couldn't be here, but I'm willing to take on the responsibility... I know we have a lot to do before I can be accepted, but I just want to serve my people...." She smiled, and her voice reverted to ist previous street-wise accent. "And if Kivar wants me, they'll have me. That's what's important."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel was mildly surprised at how well Lonnie imitated her. But it did explain why Dawn and Cedric couldn't tell the difference. "Somehow I don't think that's an option. Otherwise you wouldn't have needed Max for the meeting in New York. You would have gone back to Antar yourself. But you're still here. Which means they don't want you do they?"

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

Lonnie's eyes narrowed, and she stalked close to Isabel. "Your precious fucking brother was just as much trouble as Zan. They only want the goddamn king and the Granolith, and he ruined the summit with his second thoughts. I'm thinkin', if someone were to grab something really important to him--" She smiled ferally. "Like his sister? Maybe he'd reconsider that position."

And like that, she reached out to grab Isabel by the throat.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She stepped back, bringing her arm up to block Lonnie's attempted grab. "There's just one problem. He's not exactly happy with me right now. For all you know, he could care less."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I know him. Zan believed in me 'til the day he died. Your Max? No different. Besides, I could mess you up in so many ways."

Shards of glass on the floor from a broken window rose, and then flew toward Isabel.

"Your face, first, for instance."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You forget one thing," Isabel said, not flinching at all. "It's my dream." The glass stopped in mid-air and hung there as she sent a small thought of thanks towards Anakin and his pillow fight.

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

Lonnie scowled, then grinned again, licking her lips. "Are you sure?" She waved her hand, and the glass flew outwards and away, landing harmlessly in the walls. "Could be mine. And if you're me, and I'm you, does it make a difference?"

And the room dissolved into the deserts of New Mexico, harsh and bright, with the wind starting to kick up.

A rattler coiled its way around Isabel's foot.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's still only dream. I'm not afraid of dreams anymore."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"You should be." The snake coiled back to strike. "Once you're under for good, lost inside you're own head, Max is going to have to play ball. And dreams show you what you really are...."

The desert faded into the control room again; Zan and Rath staring, stunned, at Isabel, while Lonnie smirked from the side.

"What did you do?" Zan asked. But the answer was obvious as the sound of fighting drew near. Then there was a sudden silence that seemed louder then the sound of battle. "What did you do?" he asked again.

Lonnie grinned at him as the door burst open as Kivar entered; ignoring the weapons Zan and Rath immediately drew and pointed towards him. For his part, Kivar ignored the weapons and focused only on Isabel. "You did well," he smiled coldly.

Rath fired his weapon, cursing angrily as the energy pulse ricocheted of Kivar’s personal shield. "She’s a traitorous bitch."

...And another image-- Vilandra-- stepped free of the space between Isabel and Lonnie to say, "No. No, this wasn't what you said would happen!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel closed her eyes as the dreams, the memories, rapidly replayed in her head. But this time she could see the truth. Yes, Vilandra had been Kivar's lover. Yes, she had ultimately betrayed him. But all along she'd been trying to do the right thing, and in her innocence, she played right into Kivar's hands.

"Lost in nightmares you created? About what I feared? I don't think so. I know the truth now. She meant well. She just got played." She stepped towards Lonnie, flicking her hand towards the snake and exploding it to dust. "I wonder what would happen if I tried to do that to you. I can you know. If I'm angry enough."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

For the first time, Lonnie looked uncertain, and took a step back. Her expression hardened after a moment, and she said, "He's still there, you know. He still wants her. Me. You. Vilandra. And maybe she didn't kill her brother--" She smirked. "But I sure as hell did. Which means you could. Don't think you're so special, Isabel Evans. If I can be you, you can be me."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Raising an eyebrow, Isabel did her best to imitate Parker at her most haughty. "I have no desire to sink that low, it's tough to get the smell out of your clothes. As for Kivar, he's light years away. He's just going to have to survive on his own." She crossed her arms, studying Lonnie like a particularly nasty bug. "So here's the thing. The whole tormenting me thing? It's not going to work. So I'd suggest you leave town. Immediately. Because if I have another bad dream? I'm going to come looking for you. And you're not going to want that to happen."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"You think you can take me?" Lonnie's face twisted into an ugly expression. "Princess Useless, queen of denial?"

The room exploded outward silently again, leaving behind a shattered landscape. The whistle of an approaching bomb headed downward could be heard; a mushroom cloud rose on the horizon.

"Let's see who blinks first, you sanctimonious bitch."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Another hand flick, but this one sent Lonnie flying backwards. By the time she landed the scene had changed. Now they were on the beach at Fandom, the waves pounding on the sand. "I told you. It's time for you to go. Unless you really want to do this in person."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

Lonnie got up, snarling and furious, the slowly cooled down to sullen.

"Right. Little sister has some teeth. And this isn't the time. Or the place." She stared at Isabel coldly. "You tell Max I didn't forget. And as for you--" She smirked. "You sleep tight. And wonder about when I'll walk back, and take your life away from you again. Mess with your friends. Mess with that geek of a boyfriend. And maybe leave you wondering who else I played for a sucker."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Just try," Isabel smirked. "You won't like what happens. Trust me." Turning her back in dismissal, Isabel began to walk up the beach. "This ends now. I'm waking up."

[reflected-evil.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you walk away! But don't think this is really over! When you least expect it...."

And Lonnie faded away.

"I'll be waiting."