Hell Came Knocking

[Samantha McManus]

Samantha was standing by the top of the stairs as Mike returned from the medical center.

"Heard you had to deal with our resident ghost," she commented.

[Michael Asters]

Mike looked over at Sam with a spooked look. "Sam, how did we get her? I mean... how did the world get her? I just got to look at a woman who had part of her soul accidentally burned away by her."

[Samantha McManus]

"You're not going to like the answer to that, I'm afraid."

[Michael Asters]

"I'd be really surprised if there was an answer to 'where did the soul-eating astral parasite come from' that I did like, Sam."

[Samantha McManus]

"Well I know how you felt about that mess with Illyana..."

[Michael Asters]

"Being anywhere near that woman was like emotionally wallowing in battery acid."

[Samantha McManus]

"It seems her nemesis is keeping a hand in."

[Michael Asters]

Mike rubbed the bridge of his nose. "How actively? I'm sure I'm not the only one in this conversation who doesn't have fond memories of what it was like to be in that place."

[Samantha McManus]

"You'll get no disagreement from me."

"He arranged for her to be brought back. She doesn't know why. He was likely the one that orchestrated her death in the first place."

[Michael Asters]

"You know... I know that reaction is generally the X-Men's 'thing,' but maybe this time we should just make it a class project and be proactive. I know a guy who knows a guy that... well, would nuclear weapons have any effect in Limbo?"

[Samantha McManus]

"It's a fundamental facet of existence, Mike. We can't glass it."

"What's more worrisome is someone crafted a soulsword for her."

[Michael Asters]

"You aren't really making a good arguement against the mass destruction option."

[Samantha McManus]

"We're figuring out what's going on here. I've got people who can look at this from a more technical aspect working on it."

[Michael Asters]

"Any time that place pops up again... never good news," Mike said, shaking his head. "Anything you need me to do on it?"

[Samantha McManus]

"I know you don't exactly like dealing with magic. I know I didn't until quite recently, and this is still a bit beyond my comfort level."

[Michael Asters]

"Well we don't have to like it to deal with it. Psychic and magical tend to overlap more than either of us ever liked, it's just a fact of life."

[Samantha McManus]

"And at the same time, she's very much still just a girl. She doesn't know the half of what happened."

[Michael Asters]

"She seemed... legitimately bothered by what happened. Behind a mask of, well, how she is, at least."

[Samantha McManus]

"Aye. She's got... a way about her. I think she's afraid of being hurt by people. She certainly has been, before."

[Michael Asters]

"And going about it the most self-destructive way possible isn't unusual, yeah," Mike said with a sigh. "You're the boss. What do you need me to do, Sam?"

[Samantha McManus]

"If you really want to be involved, I'll check with Nailah to see what we can do. She's been deep into this."