Mortifer's P.O.V.

I land in front of the White House in a slightly over dramatic fashion. Can I get a little carried away sometimes, yes. But hey, what are you gonna do? To begin I survey the area with my normal and psychic senses which reveals there to be many guards and secret weapons in the vicinity. Some of the said guards are already aware of my presence and seem to be taking up position. One makes his position known and raises his voice to me.

"Identify yourself and state your purpose!"

Understandably confrontational. Little does he know that he has no leverage to make such demands, but regardless it couldn't hurt to humor him.

"I am known as Mortifer the Grey Angel." I say, using my psychic abilities to amplify my voice. "I am here to have a word with your higher ups. Please pass word of this to them so that we can wrap this up in a timely manner."

There is silence for a couple moments before I hear them, despite the distance, relay the message, and debate how to best neutralize me if the need should arise.

I can't help but chuckle at this.

We all wait in relative silence for a response, until I see the one who spoke out step forth again but seeming a little hesitant.

"Your request has been denied. Now leave at once!"

Well, it's not as though I'd expected a different outcome. Still, I'll give them a chance to simply not interfere as I take a step forward.

"Stop!"

I take another stride, heedless of his warnings. Then another, at which time I hear him speak quietly into what I can only assume is their comms. "Take the shot."

I feel the sniper I always knew was there squeeze the trigger. Without pause bring my wing up and am gratified with feeling the high caliber round disintegrate upon making contact.

That was a mistake. None of you will get the chance to make another.

Tighting my grip on their minds, I make one quick dismissing gesture with my hand and simultaneously rip them all out of consciousness. After hearing all of them hit the ground I calmly precede forward as though nothing of import had transpired.

Sometimes I think I'm too powerful for my own good. This was one of those times. But, I suppose that's why I have the rules afterall. I slip through the hallways, stepping over the bodies of those I had rendered unconscious and use my powers to make short work of any obstacle that stood in my way.

It took me maybe five minutes.

Now standing before the final doorway, quite a heftly one I might add, I consider my best approach.

I had left this room untouched by my power for two reasons. One: I needed to speak with the people in it. Two: I felt a touchstone of power in one of the individuals within the room. My interest was peaked, but my objective the same.

Well might as well get this over with.

I pry the door open with my psychic might. It's not hard, but it's not exactly easy either. As it tears from its locking mechanisms and flies open I can feel all the bullets come flying at me with a suddenness that may have bested even the most adept assassins.

My Gift, however, has long since been in affect. So, without pause I simply brought my wings to bear and absorb their firepower. Did I have to? No. But a display of power could prove useful in a time like this.

Once they exhaust their magazines I am amongst them, delivering incapacitating blows left and right. I make sure to not severely maim or do anything lethal. This was simply due to the fact I have no wish to incite vengeance and hatred in their hearts.

So, after rendering the last armed opponent a non-threat I slowly rise up to address the supposed men and women of authority.

What I do not expect is a formidable wave of psychic energy to smash into me.

Caught off my guard I am sent crashing through one of the room's heavily fortified walls.

Ow.

After cursing and taking a few moments to recompose myself as well as rise back to my full height. I bring more all my defenses to bear. Just in case.

Huh. This must kind of be what the Old One felt like when I first blasted him with one of my own psychic bolts.

"Well done Eight." One of the men spoke.

Eight?

One of the eleven is here?

Of course, how could I expect anything less?

I stride through the dust left behind from the wall's destruction. The moment I come into view I can feel the one known as 'Eight' making ready to send another wall of psychic energy my way. I, however, am ready for this one. Meeting them power for power I let them press with all the will they can muster, taking stock of the wellspring they currently had at their disposal. It was...oddly impressive, but once I feel them reach their peak I crush them. Their psychic will that is, and force them to their knee.

The changing of facial expressions is almost comical on the others upon seeing their final line of defense so thoroughly overwelmed.

"Now then." I say, with a hint of vexation touching my voice. "Will you kindly accept my request to talk on matters of import?"

They all look at each other in disbelief. Before the lead male spoke up. "After some reconsideration we have decided the wisest course of action would be to hear you out." His tone is calm, but I can feel the fear radiating off him. How terribly odd this must seem to them. An angel like being appearing and demanding an audience. I would barely be containing my trepidation if I were in their shoes.

"Indeed." I state flatly. "You are the president I presume?"

"I am."

"Good. What do you know about Hawkins, Indiana?"

He seems to scrap his mind for information but soon gives up.

"I'm afraid not much."

"Then I will have to enlighten you. All of you. Take my hand Mr. President. Everyone else hold onto him."

Everyone pauses. Unsure of themselves.

"Sometime today." I urge. It's hard to contain my sarcasm as I speak, but I extend my hand to the president nonetheless, who after a brief hesitation, reaches out to take it.

After I see the rest of them reluctantly place their hands on the president's shoulders, I send all the memories and data I have about the lab flooding into their minds. The experiments, the kidnapped children and the new horrid dimension that had been exposed. In real time, it only took about five minutes.

Once it was finished I withdrew the connection and was a little surprised to see tears in all of their eyes. Some obvious, others not so.

"Did you know?" I speak quietly.

They all seemed to shake their heads.

"No. We would never have allowed this." The president answered, disgust evident in his voice.

Whether or not that is true is hardly my concern at the moment.

"Then help me bring good out of it." I say.

"How?"

"Leave Hawkins and the new threat to me. I will tend to the those affected by this unacceptable situation, and ensure the enemy does the same. I will also require your assistance with paperwork before long. "

There is a pause as the president turns to his advisors seeking input.

"Can we have a few moments to talk this over amongst ourselves?"

"Yes. But remain in my line of sight." I concede. "I have little trust in you."

"Thank you."

They make their way to the other end of the room. I finally take a moment to analyze Eight. Another small girl, short hair, and with haunted eyes. Similar to El, but no where near identical. I release my psychic grip on her and allow her to move freely again.

She almost falls over before she realizes she now has control of her limbs again. She slowly gets to her feet and looks at me with both awe and terror.

"What are you?" She says, just a mere whisper.

Hm...that question sounds familiar.

I kneel down so that we are near eye level and smile warmly.

"I am Mortifer. But you can call me Morty if you like."

Her eyes seem to light up a little at this. "Morty." Her voice is so small. "I'm...Eight."

"I am happy to have found you Eight." I say brightly. "Would you like me to take you away from here?" I ask.

"A-away?" She seems confused.

"Yes. You can come live with good people, and myself. We will take care of you and love you as you have never known. No one will hurt you like they did in that lab ever again."

She seems deep in thought for a few moments before giving an answer.

"Yes." She whispers, her eyes shining.

My smile only grows at her response.

"Then you will leave with me once this is all done."

Just as I finished saying that the president and his little group made their way back over to us.

"We will offer any assistance we can." The president starts. "But how do we know you will not come back to strike at us or even that you'll succeed in your task?"

"My word." I reply without pause. "I give my word, and my word is proof."

There is a short silence as I wait to see if anyone dares to challenge my honor. They seem to decide not to. The president just nods in affirmation.

"I'll take my leave now. Soon I will send word asking for that which you vowed to aid me with."

"Very well." The president simply states.

I begin walking to the doorway but stop and turn to face Eight, extending my hand in welcome.

"Come." I say gently. "Don't be afraid. It's time to go. Just like we talked about, okay?"

It's the first smile I see on Eight's face as she hesitantly strides forward, almost disbelieving what's actually happening, and places her little hand in mine.

The adults look like they want to say something but decide against it.

Wise choice.

And with that I lead Eight out of the White House I had so thoroughly infiltrated.

A full night I think.

Yes. Definitely a full night.

Mike's P.O.V.

"It's gonna be so great to have you living with us El!" I can't help but exclaim to my very precious friend.

El just smiles that smile of her's that never ceases to make me want to just stare.

We are currently just walking down the hallways of this lodge catching up while we can before everything picks up.

"Mike?" She says quietly.

"Yeah?" I say enthusiastically.

"Thank you."

My brow furrows. "For what?"

Suddenly she's hugging me, which I instantly return, but I can't seem to stop the blush from coming as per usual nowadays.

"For keeping your promise." She whispers into my ear.

It takes a few moments for my brain to formulate a response.

"You too." I say, my voice dry. "You came back to me. To us I mean."

She pulls away and seems to be a little red. I intinctively gently place the back of my hand on her forehead to check her temperature.

"El, are you feeling alright?" I ask in concern, now knowing prolonged exposure to the Upside-down could leave its damage. "You feel kind of warm."

"It's okay." She mutters looking down.

"You sure?"

She nods and says softly. "Just happens alot when I'm with you. I don't mind."

I had to do a double take on those words for a moment before my face also flushed red. This was the longest sentence I ever heard her utter. She noticed my embarrassment and smiled all the wider.

"Mike, pretty." She teased

I had to laugh a little at this.

"For boys the word is cute."

"Then you are cute." She continues.

I'm not sure my face could possibly get more red at this point.

"T-thanks El." I stutter. "You are pretty too."

Just then we hear commotion in the room beside us. A shifting of furniture along with grunts and moans can be heard. The voices sound oddly familiar.

El recognizes them before I do.

"Nancy, Jonathan." She exclaims, worry in her eyes. "Need help."

She looks like she's ready to tear open the door to make sure they're alright. I cannot let that happen, for so many reasons, so I quickly take step in front of her to make sure it she gets the picture.

She looks at me in confusion as I speak up.

"El. I know this sounds weird but trust me, you don't need to worry about those two. They are actually probably having a really good time together right now." I could probably vomit right now.

She seems to ease up a bit, and I take the opportunity to drag her away from the door.

"How?" She asks, and I know exactly what she means. I turn a bit red again before answering.

"They are doing something that older couples like to do when they get the chance."

"Couples..." She murmers.

"Oh right, couples are..."

"Nancy and Morty told me." She interjected.

"Oh great." I breathe. Secretly relieved I didn't have to explain that concept to her.

She seems to still wanna say something but can't bring herself to voice it out loud.

"El?"

She looks at me. "Yes Mike?"

"You can tell me anything, okay?"

She pauses but manages to get some words out. "We...in the school...before...we...we..."

Oh. Crap. I was hoping to have more time before we talked about that. Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any. Still I audibly gulped.

"You mean when I...kissed you?" I ask quietly.

She turns red but keeps looking at me.

"Yes. Why?"

It was as if all the air is suddenly missing from the world. Taking more than a few moments I manage to muster up enough courage to just say it.

"W-w-well. It's like I said El, I like you.

She seemed a tad confused so I tried to clarify.

"I mean, I kind of have a crush on you..." I trail off, the heat in my cheeks never leaving.

I saw a flicker of understanding cross her features.

"You have...a crush...on me?" She asks with disbelieving wide eyes.

"Well yeah." I reply awkwardly. "But it doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that we stick together and catch you up on everything you've been missing out on all this time."

She smiles a bit, but still seems a little deep in thought about something. I guide us back to the others, but before we rejoin them I stop in front of the doorway turning to face El again.

"Hey El?"

"Yes?" She says, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Don't worry if you don't have a crush on me too. I mean, we will always be friends no matter what. You're really important to me."

With that I walk through the doorway to the others before giving her a chance to respond.

Joyce's P.O.V.

I couldn't help but smile as I looked on at the youngins having fun. They were just so filled with joy, especially now that Eleven had been recovered.

Us adults were just exchanging stories over again and making plans to help Eleven together. Obviously she would need someone with her alot of the time in the beginning since she always seemed like she'd be close to a panic attack whenever we would so much as go to put a door between her and everyone else.

Whatever they'd done to her in the lab was unforgivable, but maybe, with time, she would heal.

Guess we're just lucky that Mortifer showed up to save the day, and all of us by extension. He seems to be a rather odd fellow, not even just physically speaking. Even when his eyes aren't burning with that cold white fire they are gleaming with a peculiar combination of compassion and authority.

Speaking of which, he was still out doing...whatever it is Nancy said he was gonna do. Something about talking to high government officials and checking out the lab for any survivers.

I wonder if he'll find anyone.

More to the point, I wonder if he'll find anyone like Eleven.

Wouldn't that be crazy?

I look back at the youngins and realize that I don't see Jonathan or Nancy.

I take the sudden panic I feel and shove it down for the moment.

"Hey kids." I call. They turn to me. "Have you guys seen Jonathan and Nancy?"

They all seem to develop knowing smiles, and I almost don't even need to hear the answer at this point.

"They're just hanging out Ms. Byers." Mike answers.

"Doing couple stuff." El clarifies, at which point there is a round of 'ews' from the boys.

"Thank you." I say with a smile. Hm...well as long as my son doesn't do anything stupid then it should be just fine, and I know I can trust him.

I sigh, heading back to the others when I hear it again.

All is well. Head back to your homes. I will contact you again in person within the next couple days.

I look at the adults to see if any had noticed. None had. I turn my gaze to the kids instead and see Will and Eleven with wide eyes.

Interesting.

Regardless, looks like it's up to me to pass the message along.