The Melaswen Paradox (Read 329,001 times)

[heroicmuse]

Great use of history but I agree with Billie. Stop yelling.

I hope Jett is wrong but I don't think so...

Yay for Stephanie and Joey bonding.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

Philip seems quite protective of Stephanie. I'm surprised he knows about Touch the Sky Airlines. I didn't remember Jett being undercover. Interesting.

Steph and Joe are going for pizza! Yum.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 462

SALEM PLACE
Joey and Stephanie were walking through Salem Place.
JOEY: “Haven’t played in a while”? “Might not be any good”? Yeah, right.
STEPHANIE: It’s true! I haven’t played Galaga in years.
JOEY: Oh, please! You totally killed me back there!
STEPHANIE: Well, not to brag or anything, but back in Dayton when Mom and I lived out there, there was a little pizza place we would stop at sometimes after Mom got off of work, and I was the undisputed queen of Galaga.
JOEY: Ah, so it all comes out now.
STEPHANIE: Honestly, I’m kinda surprised I’m still that good. I haven’t played since I was in high school.
JOEY: Oh, please. You’re good at everything. You’re basically perfect.
Stephanie laughed.
STEPHANIE: I am nowhere near perfect, little bro. Remind me to tell you about my days as a racecar driver and my early college days sometime.
JOEY: Sounds good. Anyway, I have to admit, that wasn’t totally lame.
STEPHANIE: Aw! You actually had fun! See? I am totally the cool big sister.
JOEY: Well, I wouldn’t go that far.
Stephanie put an arm around Joey.
STEPHANIE: Admit it. You think I’m cool.
JOEY: Yeah, okay. Sure.
Both Stephanie and Joey laughed.
STEPHANIE: So, what else do you wanna do?
JOEY: Dunno, really. We could catch a movie, I guess.
STEPHANIE: That’d be cool. Ooh, have you seen Deadpool 2 yet?
JOEY: Nope. And, I honestly didn’t have you down as someone who’d be into Deadpool.
STEPHANIE: Are you kidding? I love Deadpool! I have since before he was in movies.
JOEY: You serious?
STEPHANIE: Very! There’s a lot you don’t know about me, little bro. Though, I’ll be in town for a while, so I’ll have plenty of time to show you what I’m like.
JOEY: Okay, cool. You wanna go see Deadpool 2, then?
STEPHANIE: Totally! Let’s go!

ISA HQ - WASHINGTON D.C.
BILLIE: Seriously, guys. Come on now.
Philip shook his head and walked away.
JETT: Sorry about that.
BILLIE: No worries.
Billie turned and followed Philip.
BILLIE: Philip.
Philip turned around.
PHILIP: How could you take his side over your own brother?
BILLIE: I am not taking sides. As I said, this is a party, not a chance for you to air your personal grievances with other agents.
PHILIP: I can’t believe Tarrington let him back in.
BILLIE: Look, Carver is a good agent.
Philip’s eyes narrowed.
BILLIE: Still not taking sides, I’m just stating a fact. Look, we’re here to celebrate Tarrington and Shane, so let’s do that. Forget about Carver and Jeremy Horton.
Philip hesitated.
PHILIP: Yeah, okay.
BILLIE: Although, I have to admit, I didn’t think you and Stephanie were that close anymore.
PHILIP: We’re not. Doesn’t mean I don’t still care about her. I care about all of my exes.
BILLIE: Well, in that case, there’s something I think we should talk about.
In another part of the room, John was pouring himself another drink. He glanced over at the door and saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was something dark. Jett walked over.
JETT: You good, man?
JOHN: Yeah. Hey, you know that feeling you were talking about earlier? I just got it, too. I’ll take care of it, though.
John walked over to Shane.
SHANE: Hope you’re enjoying the party.
JOHN: Of course.
SHANE: We must have a picture together.
Kimberly had a camera in her hand. John and Shane smiled as she took their picture. John put his arm around Shane and turned to his ear.
JOHN (whispering): We’ve got trouble

[Kpatch]

Never heard of Galaga. I guess it's a game they have at pizza parlors.

I am guessing Billie is about to tell Philip what's happened with Melanie.

[heroicmuse]

Loved seeing Joey and Stephanie bond.

Curious about what Billie has to say.

Also wondering what John saw and what he and Shane are gonna do.

Great chapter André DiMera

[André DiMera]

Chapter 463

SALEM PLACE
That evening, Joey and Stephanie were walking out of the movie theater.
JOEY: Okay, that was awesome!
STEPHANIE: Totally! I think it was even better than the first one!
JOEY: What’d you think about the mid-credits scene?
STEPHANIE: Oh, that was hilarious! Especially the bit with Ryan Reynolds!
JOEY: I loved it!
STEPHANIE: Me too!
Joey and Stephanie continued walking.
JOEY: Okay, you were right.
STEPHANIE: Of course I was. About what?
JOEY: I had a good time hanging out with you tonight.
STEPHANIE: So, you admit that I’m cool, then?
JOEY: I didn’t say that. I said I had a good time.
STEPHANIE: Admit it. I am the coolest big sister you know.
JOEY: You’re my only big sister. You’re my only sister in general.
STEPHANIE: Not the point. I’m still the coolest.
Joey sighed.
JOEY: Okay, fine. You’re pretty cool.
STEPHANIE: Back at you, little bro.
Stephanie and Joey hugged.
JOEY: Seriously, though, I did have a good time.
STEPHANIE: Well, thankfully, I’m not going back to Springfield for another week or two, so we’ll have plenty of time to have more fun together.
JOEY: Sounds good.
Then, they heard a noise and looked over. Jade, pushing Emmy in a stroller walked over.
JADE: Oh, hey. Sorry, am I interrupting something?
STEPHANIE: Joey, is that who I think it is?
JOEY: What are you doing here?
JADE: I’m going on a walk with my daughter.
STEPHANIE: Wait, I remember that face now! You’re Jade Michaels, aren’t you?

ISA HQ - WASHINGTON D.C.
PHILIP: What’s going on?
BILLIE: We found another of your exes, Melanie Jonas. She’s in DiMera custody and we have reason to believe she’s been brainwashed, much like Brady and Theresa.
Philip sighed deeply.
PHILIP: Let me guess, you want my help getting her out.
BILLIE: That’s up to you. You think you’re ready for another mission?
Shane smiled.
SHANE: Lovely. Thank you very much, John. If you will excuse us, please.
Shane and John walked away from the cameras. John caught Steve, Roman and Jett’s eyes, and the five went out into the hallway.
SHANE: All right, does someone want to tell me what the bloody hell’s going on, please? John, what did you mean that we’ve got trouble.
JOHN (whispering): Not here. I think we’re being watched.
SHANE (whispering): By whom?
John put a finger to his lips. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a figure wearing all black and wearing a ski mask stepped out from the shadows. The figure froze for a moment when confronted with the five ISA agents. Then, it started running in the opposite direction.
STEVE: After him.
All five agents started running towards the figure. John and Roman were the first to catch up. They pinned the figure up against a wall, and then each put an arm around it.
JOHN: Gotcha!
ROMAN: Now, it’s time to find out who the hell this guy is.
STEVE: And what he thinks he’s doing gatecrashing the party. You wanna do the honors, Guv’nor?
SHANE: I certainly would.
Shane pulled off the figures’ ski mask. Shane, John, Roman and Steve gasped. The intruder was Nyx, the daughter of Orpheus.

[heroicmuse]

Ooh... I knew Nyx would turn up sooner or later but I wasn't expecting her to try to crash the party. I'm glad you didn't make us wait all weekend to see who it was! LOL

I wonder if Philip will try to rescue Melanie and what kind of shape she is in.

Stephanie vs Jade should be interesting.

Great chapter André DiMera. Will there be previews?

[Kpatch]

What is Nyx doing there and why did she think she could get away with whatever she's planning with the whole ISA echelon present.

Methinks Philip is going on a mission.

[mae00]

WHY does Jade keep showing up everywhere Joey is? Girl needs to move on. All of these "run-ins" are getting to be a little too coincidental.

Nyx isn't very bright to show up to an ISA gathering.....and wearing all black and a ski mask.

Oh I hope that Philip goes to save Melanie. Hopefully he will be able to get her to remember some things....I would like to see her throwing muffins at him again tho

[André DiMera]

Thanks for reading and commenting, everyone!

---

Next week...

The return of Orpheus' daughter...
ROMAN: What the hell is going on here?

...leads to an unfortunate truth being revealed.
JOHN: Are you serious?

Plus, Philip has a decision to make.
BILLIE: Will you do it?

And Stephanie meets her brother's troubled ex.
JOEY: Why do you keep following me?

All this and more next week on THE MELASWEN PARADOX!

[heroicmuse]

I wonder what the unfortunate truth is. I'm also curious about Philip's decision regarding rescuing Melanie.

But I'm most excited for Stephanie confronting Jade. And I'd love to hear the answer to Joey's question. Why is she following him, exactly? Or is it just a coincidence?

Great previews André DiMera.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 464

SALEM PLACE
STEPHANIE: You are! I recognize you from the graduation party the other day.
JADE: Oh, yeah. You’re Joey’s sister. I recognize you, too. I’ve heard about you.
JOEY: I’m sorry, can we cut to the chase here? What are you doing here?
JADE: I told you, I was taking Emmy for a walk.
JOEY: No. I don’t believe that. I mean, I’m sure you were taking her for a walk, but I doubt that that’s all it was. It seems like every time something’s finally going good for me, you’re there. Now, I want this cleared up for once and for all. Why do you keep following me?

ISA HQ - WASHINGTON D.C.
PHILIP: What would this mission entail?
BILLIE: Mostly, going undercover. We know where Melanie is, it’s just getting to her that’s proving difficult. We’d give you a false identity and a reason to be in the DiMera Mansion. Of course, you’ll be watched at all times. We’ll have a tracker and camera on you to make sure you don’t come to any actual harm. If this works the way we think it will, you’ll not only be saving Melanie, but also giving the ISA some information on how the DiMeras are able to keep their hold on people. Will you do it?
Philip thought for a minute. He put his drink down.
PHILIP: I don’t see that I’ve really got any other choice. We’ve gotta save Melanie. Bringing the DiMera’s down, even just a little bit, would be an added bonus. Where do I sign?
ROMAN: What the hell is going on here?
NYX: Oh, Roman. So good to see you again. Both of you, as it were. You too, Steve.
STEVE: Wish I could say the same.
JETT: Guys, who is this?
JOHN: You ever read the file on Orpheus?
JETT: I glanced at it.
STEVE: Well, meet Lady Orpheus.
ROMAN: This is Nyx, Orpheus’ daughter.
NYX: So nice to have this little reunion.
JOHN: Now, give us an answer, what are you doing here?
NYX: Well, I can never resist a party.
ROMAN: More importantly, how did you get out of that prison in Chicago?
NYX: What, that place? That was a piece of cake to get out of. I mean, have you met me or my brother?
STEVE: So, Orpheus Jr. got you out before we nailed him, and you’ve been, what, biding your time until you got us all in one spot?
NYX: Pretty much. Except that it wasn’t Erebus who got me out. It was someone else.
SHANE: Give us a name.
NYX: How much is it worth to you?
SHANE: No. Sorry, you don’t get to make bargains. You’re on the ISA’s top watchlist. There is no cutting deals for you.
NYX: Well, then I guess you’ll just never know, then, will you?
Tarrington walked into the hallway.
TARRINGTON: Well, this is quite a surprise. I heard a commotion outside and thought I’d come see what it was.
SHANE: Orpheus’ daughter here thought she’d sneak into the party, try and cause trouble.
JOHN: Yeah, but something still doesn’t make sense. This is one of the most secure buildings on earth. Only someone with clearance would be able to get in. How did she get in?
TARRINGTON: Ah. I believe I might be able to answer that.
John raised an eyebrow. Everyone looked from Nyx to Tarrington.

[heroicmuse]

I really hope Nyx isn't an ISA agent.

I have a feeling Jade may actually be innocent but I guess we'll see.

Philip's mission sounds interesting.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

I'm curious as to how Philip is going to go undercover in the Dimera mansion when everyone knows who he is. Hmmm.

So Tarrington knows how Nyx got in? I've got to know more!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 465

ISA HQ - WASHINGTON D.C.
JOHN: What do you mean?
TARRINGTON: I mean what I said, and if you wait long enough for me to explain, you’ll see what I mean. Now, I must remind you at the time that this did not involve me at the time. I was merely another agent when this occurred. This was the doing of my predecessor, Ogden Vaughn.
JETT: Who?
ROMAN: One of the ISA’s less than stellar former directors.
TARRINGTON: Indeed. After the downfall of Orpheus, thanks to Agent Black here, something had to be done about the children.
NYX: We have names, you know.
TARRINGTON: Director Vaughn made, what he believed at the time, was the right decision. Had we left things alone, Erebus and Nyx would have become wards of the state. So, Vaughn took them in and had them trained.
JOHN: Are you serious?
TARRINGTON: Very. As I said, at the time, Vaughn thought he was doing the right thing. I tried to make him see reason, but as director, he had final say.
A younger Tarrington stood in front of then-Director Ogden Vaughn.
TARRINGTON: You realise you’re making a big mistake.
VAUGHN: I don’t see it that way. If we were to leave the children in the care of the state, God knows what would become of them.
TARRINGTON: Well, you can’t seriously believe that you can train them. The Board would never agree-
VAUGHN: I’m the Director, I can overrule the Board.
TARRINGTON: But they are children, Ogden! You cannot put children through these kinds of tests, especially not his children!
VAUGHN: That’s Director Vaughn to you. And I certainly can. Orpheus may have gone rogue on us, but I will make sure that they do not.
TARRINGTON: I only wish he had been right.
NYX: Vaughn never cared about us. All he cared was that he had two more soldiers at his disposal. Erebus and I were nothing more than a number to him.
STEVE: So, what happened then?
TARRINGTON: Things went fairly smoothly for a while. However, it was not to be. The children were consumed with this...this rage. They were convinced that they had to avenge their father.
NYX: And we still do. And we will, eventually.
SHANE: I think not. You’re going away for a long time, and this time, you’ll not be escaping.
Two other agents came into the hallway.
SHANE: Gentlemen, I think you’ll find that this is Nyx, the daughter of Orpheus, and a known criminal on the ISA’s list. Put her in the Vault.
The two agents took Nyx by either arm and cuffed her hands behind her back.
NYX: This isn’t the last you’ve seen of me! Me or Erebus! We’ll be back! Getting out of the Vault’ll be like child’s play!
Nyx struggled as the two agents escourted her out of the room. Everyone turned back to Tarrington.
TARRINGTON: As I was saying, Nyx and Erebus were consumed with rage. When they were nearing adulthood, they went rogue, as I had predicted that they would when they were children. We tried to stop them, but they got away. We didn’t find them until they boarded your ship back form Melaswen two years ago. You asked how Nyx was able to get in to this building, Agent Black. There is your answer. She and her brother were, in their childhood, trained by the ISA