Where the director of AC Asylum works. Though she's never around. This place is usually empty.

::Sister Assumpta gently closes the door behind her and looks around with a frown. She wonders why the room is empty.::

(I was called here... wasn't I?)

::She frowns.::

::Slamming the door as she enters, Sister Hepzibah stares at Sister Assumpta for a while before glancing around.::

"Where is she? Don't tell me Mary Mary's coming..."

"That's Sister Mary Mary, Sister Hepzibah, and I really don't know."

::Assumpta sighs and fixes her clothes.::

"Do you have any idea what this is about?"

::Sister Hepzibah glares at Sister Assumpta.::

"Of course I don't, Sister Ass. I just know that The Director better be here soon or I'm leaving. I have patients to shoot. With injections, that is."

::She smirks at the other nun.::

"That's not funny, Hepzibah."

"That's Sister Hepzibah."

::More smirking.::

"Girls, girls, stop this childish squabbling at once!"

::Sister Winifred twitters as she waddles into the office, taking a seat in The Director's chair.::

"I have news from The Director."

::She says proudly, her wobbly chin quivering with excitement.::

"The Director wishes we employ Serenity to clean up this town. The FBI has been in touch and though they seem to have been affected by that which we do not mention, the message was quite clear. The unmentionable world is quite out of control. These delusional fools are running riot and we are the ones to stop them."

::Reaching under the desk, she presses a button.::

::Sister Hepzibah shifts her weight.::

"This new Director is fast."

::A door slides open at the side of the room. There's the clicking of bolts, the sound of locks opening, catches unhooking and chains slipping free of their bonds. With a smooth hiss, an inner door opens, and there is silence for a second, before Serenity steps out. She looks exactly as her name suggests: serene. Calm. Divine. She is divine. Soft wings protrude from her back, holes in her tight armoured shirt accomodating them. She is an angel.::

"By the name of God and She who is Holy..."

::Sister Winifred crosses herself and stands, extending her gaze to the angel in front of her.::

"Do you understand The Director's orders?"

::Serenity nods.::

"I understand."

"There's a good child..."

::Sister Winifred says, then looks dithery.::

"Go."

::Serenity spreads her wings and suddenly a black shadow shoots out the window. She's gone.::

::Sister Assumpte leaves with everyone. The office is empty.::

::Serenity carries Paige in and finally puts her down, then closes the door behind Julie. She looks at the Director's chair, which is facing away from the door. She steps in front of her captives.::

"The visitors to see you, Mother."

::She turns to face Julie and Paige.::

"Any attempt to see Mother Superior will be met with dire consequences."

::To prove her point, she picks up a paperweight and throws it towards the back of the chair. It hits off an electric barrier and disintegrates.::

"Do not do something stupid."

::She leaves.::

::Paige turns back from having watched Serenity leave, and stares at the desk, then the chair, then Julie.::

(What the hell?)

"Welcome to my asylum."

::The Director speaks, steepling her fingers, her elbows resting on the arms of the chair. Not that Paige and Julie can see this. It's one of those huge leather chairs that swamps the person sitting in it. And the whole thing where she's facing away.::

"Sorry about our welcome service, but as might have been explained to you already, we prefer our patients aren't disturbed by visitors unless we have full control of the situation."

(Patients? Asylum?)

"This is an insane asylum?"

"A speciality one. We only take in people who are under the delusion that certain forces exist in this world which do not."

"... like what?"

::Paige glances uneasily at Julie. The bad feeling she's having is getting worse.::

"I come from a place where myth and folklore is rife in our stories and lives of the romantic. Yet I did not grow up to believe that such stories were true. Magic and all it entails is a danger to our society as long as there are those beliving in it. AC Asylum rehabilitates those in need of rehabilitation. Those who call themselves witches or demons or warlocks... magic has no place here, and it has no place in the world. We aim to stamp it out quickly and effectively."

"Magic!?"

::Paige stares.::

"But you're using magic to disguise this place! You're holding people captive against their will - probably with magic! This goddamn forcefield stopping us from seeing you is magic!"

::To illustrate, she grabs a book and throws it towards the chair. And again, it burns up in the electricity.::

"How can you sit there and say it doesn't exist? It's right in front of you!"

"Oh, Paige. Of course magic exists. But it's a privilege and an honour to be able to use it. All the patients in my little hospital have abused their rights to magic. Right?"

::She chuckles.::

"Rights? There are no rights to magic. It's a dangerous evil on our society. I plan to eradicate this evil. I wasn't expecting to take on the Charmed Ones so soon, but plans can change."

::One of the Director's hands becomes visible as she reaches out and presses a button on the side of the chair.::

::The huge door in the wall opens and Serenity walks out, bringing with her an ice-cold chill.::

"Yes, Mother?"

"Why don't you show Ms. Halliwell and Ms. Liu to their rooms?"

"Yes, Mother."

::Serenity turns to Paige and Julie and with a swift movement, grabs both girls. Holding them tightly under each arm, Serenity lifts them both easily from the ground and carries them to cell 5.::

::Sister Assumpta brings Lirie in.::

"Valerie Kelly here to see you, ma'am."

:: Lirie stands still, hands clasped at her back, absently rocking to and fro on her tiptoes. She doesn't say a word, only stares at the back of the Director's chair, dismally reminded of all the times she found herself in the principal's office. ::

"I'll um, leave you to it."

::Sister Assumpta smiles briefly at Lirie and walks out to the cell corridor.::

"Hello, Valerie. I'm afraid something's come up which means your therapy here at AC will have to be terminated."

:: Lirie watches Assumpta leave and looks back at the Director when she speaks. ::

"Woot! Great, you finally realized I don't belong here. So when am I leaving?"

"When the soldiers arrive to collect you."

:: Lirie freezes. ::

"What soldiers?"

(Eep? Does she mean Israeli soldiers? Why the would that bloody government waste taxpayers' money to retrieve one little renegade?!)

"Unfortunately, though you have been living in the United States of America for several years, you are not a full citizen of this country. Your own country has laws I believe you are aware you must uphold. They are, to my understanding, several hundred runaways from the States to take back to fulfil their civic duty. You have not been overlooked."

(Damn.)

"Yes, well, actually I was just about to return there, so... good timing."

:: Lirie fidgets slightly, looking around the room in uneasiness. Having stating in the personal files regarding some possible mental issues was one thing; being picked up from an insane asylum by the army, was a completely different one. ::

"So, umm, what is going to be with the others?"

"They will stay on and receive the proper therapy they need. I tried to explain to your commanders that you are in severe mental disability, but they would not listen. There is only so much I can do, even with the American government on my side. You have your remaining time to say goodbye to your friends, if you wish."

(Of course... idiots!)

:: Lirie rolls her eyes at the mention of Israeli commanders, knowing they would most definitely accept a nutjob into their ranks if only to prove a point. ::

"Wait, so you want me to leave my friends here? I can't do that."

"You would be leaving them regardless. Go now. I have told you what I needed to. You do not have much time as it is."

:: Lirie stares at the back of the Director's chair, wondering why exactly was the dudette so utterly rude as to seat the whole time with her back to her. She contemplates jumping on her just for the sake of scaring the shit out of her, but decides against it. Cause it's just plain weird. On the other hand... Nah. ::

"Right. No, yeah, sure, you're right..."

:: She nods absentmindedly and backs to the door, silently slipping into the cell corridor. ::