A ray of sunlight entered the prison cell as William Stryker rolled over on his bed a little. He had been trapped in that cell for about four years, but it felt longer than that to him. All Stryker knew was that he would soon meet his fate.
As if being told to walk till his feet bled wasn't bad enough, but being stuck in jail for four years for killing an upper ranked Military office was what he consited Hell. Knowing that he was going to be put to death any time soon made it twice as bad. Everytime a gaurd walked past his cell, his heart would start to race and he'd sweat really badly.
But, today, on the other hand, was a different day. For he didn't know that soon he would be a free man.
Stryker rolled over and looked at the cell door to see one of the guards standing there. He stared at him for a few seconds before sitting up.
"Ain't you a lucky guy, Stryker." The guard grinned, "You'll never have to stay in this place again."
'Guess it's time to throw in the cards.' Stryker thought as he watched the guard with dead eyes, 'Screw it! I knew I was a dead man from the start.'
The guard laughed at the expression on Stryker's face. He shook his head a little, "You knew that you were going to die sooner or later, so why not end your suffering now."
Stryker kept his mouth shut as he listened to the guard. He had nothing to say for he knew that he was a dead man.
"But, the warden decided to be nice and give you another hour to live." The guard shook his head in disgust, "Whatever. Ain't my call what the ward decides to do with you."
He walked off leaving Stryker on his own to "enjoy" the last hour of this life.
Stryker looked over at the window, then stood up. He went over to the barred up window just before he heard people yelling and gun fires from inside the prison house. His head turned a little to see blood spats on the wall across from his cell.
All Stryker could see was a shadow with long nails coming his way. Slowly, he moved towards the door only to be stopped by a person standing in front of the cell door. With all his effort he managed to smile just a little at the person.
"I knew you wouldn't abandon me, Victor." He said looking at the man in front of him.
"Did you think I would?" Asked Victor as he used one of his bloody, bone nails to pick lock the cell door open.
"I thought you died when you jumped into the fallin' cooling tower." Stryker watched him.
"Do you honestly think anything could kill me?" Victor managed to get the lock open, then opened up the cell door. He retracted his nails back into his fingers, "Anyways...let's hurry back befor they call for back up."
"You mean you didn't kill all the guards?" Stryker asked as he followed Victor to the main enterance.
"Can we stop playing twenty questions?!" Victor asked become very fustrated with Stryker, "I believe I did, but I'm not too sure if there were any that were out for the day."
He led Stryker out the main doors, then towards the main gate. He went over to the guard house, which held a dead, bloody body inside, then pushed the button that would allow the gates to open. He left the guard house, then took Stryker over to a police car, that was parked next to the gates with motor still running.
"You never sease to amaze me, Victor." Said Stryker as he got into the passanger side of the cop car.
Victor grinned as he got into the driver's seat.
"Victor, I have another question for you...do you know how to drive?" Stryker asked as he watched Victor put the car into drive.
Victor grinned again, "Just you wait and see!"
With that, Stryker flew back against the seat when Victor punched the gas, "You really should warn a man first before you decide to take off like that!"
"At least you're alive!"
Stryker put the seat belt on to keep himself from flying farther back into the car. He took several slow, deep breaths, "So...are you going to tell me where we're going?"
"Three Mile Island."
"Is the lab really still there?"
"It took me a long while to get back into the place. Most of the stuff was taken and the place was boarded up. The cooling tower Weapon Eleven destoried is gone."
"We can do without that. Is there any equiptment left?"
"I managed to smuggle a few things."
"So, that's what you've been doing all this time?"
Victor grinned as he slowed the speed of the car once they got close to town, "Pretty much! I've, also, been 'stalking' this mutant girl. Rather unique, she is. After I got some of the lab put back together, I snagged her and did an 'experiment' on her."
Stryker took off his seat belt and slid down the seat a little, so that no one would notice him in the car, "What kind of experiment?"
"You'll have to see once we get to the lab." Victor grinned as he drove.
Victor drove the car down a bridge that lead to Three Mile Island, which was shaped like a battleship. He drove over all the rock and rubble that hadn't been cleaned up once the building was closed down, then let the car come to a hault once they were by the back of the building. He turned off the car, then got out.
"Remind me to never let you drive ever again!" Stryker sat up, then opened up the door and got out, "That was the worst ride of my life!"
"No my fault you don't like my driving." Victor walked over to one of the boarded up doors.
"You don't even know how to drive, do you?!"
Victor grinned as he moved the board, so that it slid across the ground, "That's my secret. Now, do you want to see the mutant, or not?"
"As long as you promise not to drive me anywhere again!" Stryker walked over to the door, then stepped inside, "Not much light in here, is there?"
Victro stepped inside, then slid the board back over the door, "Best to make it look like this place is still closed down. But, there'll be light once we get to the upper level." He walked over to one of the stair cases that led to the second floor, then went up it.
"Smart move." Stryker followed after him, "So, how long have you had said mutant?"
"About two days. She's been asleep since I brought her here." Victor walked towards a part of that building that was better lit.
"She's not dead, is she?"
"Let's just say that she lost her memory. I scanned her body after the experiment was over and she's one hundard precent alive and has one hundard precent memory lose." Victor stopped in front of one of the rooms and opened up the door. He turned on the light and walked inside.
Stryker followed after him and noticed that the mutant was sleeping on a bed, "Really?"
"Trust me, I have an idea." Victor went over to a chair placed next to the bed, then sat down in it.
Stryker walked to the other side of the bed and looked down at the mutant.
The mutant appeared to be in her early twenties or a bit younger. She was kind of punk/goth looking. Her hair was buzzed on the left side and was dyed purple while the rest of her hair was black. She had three lip rings, a nose ring, an eye brow ring and both ears pierced. The left ear had five piercings and the right had two. She wore a strange black graphic shirt with one long sleeve and a tank top sleeve. Her pants were just as odd with one pant leg cut a little above the knee and the other long. She wore combat boots.
"Odd looking creature, she is." Stryker squated down next to the bed and looked at the girl, "What's with kids today? How do they expect to get real jobs looking like this?"
"She has some tattoos as well, I've noticed." Victor watched him.
"So, what is she?"
Victor grinned as he picked up the girl's hand, then ran his hand along her knucks, "You might have an idea."
Stryker looked up and noticed metal claws coming out of the girl's knucks. His eyes widened slightly, "How did you...?"
"I added a slight more adamantium into her body. She survived the treatment, but hasn't woken up since. My hope is to bring her back to reality today."
"What's your plan? What do you have in store for her?"
"I know you still have the desier to create the ultimate mutant and I know where you can find all the mutants who excaped and more." Victor sat back in his seat, "A man by the name of Professor Charles Xavier created a place to keep the mutants safe. We could send her off as our little spy. She'll gather information as to what mutants are inside the building, then we'll raid the place and take all the mutants."
Stryker stood up as he thought, "Hmm...sounds like a rather interesting plan, but what if she betrays us?"
"With her memory gone, it shouldn't be a problem to keep her on our side." Victor looked at the girl, "Shall I wake her up?"
"By all means."
Victor leaned over the bed, then shook the girl, "Time to wake up." He said.
"Remember, if you want her on our side, be nice to her."
"I'll make sure to keep that in mind." Victor watched as the girl's eyes slowly opened up, "Good afternoon."
The girl looked at him with a confused look on her face.
'I'm surprised she doesn't have funky colored contacts covering her green eyes.' Victor thought to himself as he moved away from her a little, "Did you have a good sleep?"
The girl still stared at him.
"Don't be afraid. I saved you from someone who attacked you. My name is Victor Creed and this is my good friend, William Stryker."
The girl turned her head and looked at Stryker. It wasn't too much longer that she put her hand on her head, which was throbbing badly.
"It seems that the person who attacked you must have hurt your head. Tell me, what's your name?" Victor asked.
The girl looked back at him, then shook her head a little. She closed her eyes.
"I see you're having some memory loss."
The girl nodded slightly.
'It appears to be working.' Stryker thought as he watched the scene before him.
"Well, I might have an idea of who did it, but I don't know for sure." Victor looked at her, "But, I kind of have an idea of where the person lives. If you do us a favor, then I'll be sure to take down the person who hurt you, alright?"
The girl nodded, then opened up her eyes and looked at him.
"The place I want you to go to is like a mansion, but it's a school. It's run by a bald guy who can do mind tricks. All you have to do is get his trust, get inside the mansion and take notes on everybody who's inside. I understand this could take awhile, so come back every week until I'm able to tell who the person was that hurt you. Once I know who it was, then I'll go in and take care of things from there. Is that a deal?"
The girl nodded slightly.
"Alright. I'll take you as far as I can. I understand you need to rest, but the sooner we leave, the better." Victor stood up, then kneeled down next to the bed. He reched under the bed and pulled out a messanger bag. He held it up to her, "Inside is a notebook and a pen, so you can write down everything. And, since the bald man will want to know your name, you shall be known as Zeryn Lockhart. Do you understand?"
The girl nodded.
"Nice name. I like it." Stryker said as he watched them with much amusement that Victor's plan seemed to be going well.
"Repeat the name back to me, so I know you won't forget it." Victor said.
It took the girl a moment before she spoke, "Zeryn Lockhart."
"Good!" Victor stood up and put the bag over his shoulder, then picked her up, "I'll take you as far as I can, then the bald guy should be able to find you. Remember this, do not let him know about this! Try and find a way to cover it up in your memory, or all will be ruined, do you understand?"
Zeryn nodded as she yawned a little.
"Alright, before you fall asleep." Victor looked at Stryker, "I'll be back after I drop her off."
"Good luck. I'll be here." Stryker said.
Victor nodded, then walked over to the bedroom door and left.
Stryker watched for several moments, then sat down on the bed. He looked over at the boarded up window in the room, then grinned slightly, "What do you really want from all of this, Victor? I might have an idea, but I'll just sit back and let this all play out."
Victor carried Zeryn into a wooded area. He walked until he felt that it was time to leave her for Professor Xavier to find. He stopped, then put her down, "Can you stand on your own?"
Zeryn leaned against a tree in order to keep herself from falling down. She was still feeling a little light headed.
"Just hope you're better by the time the bald guy gets here." Victor took the messanger bag off his shoulder, then put it on the ground next to her, "Don't forget why you're going there, got it?"
Zeryn looked at him and noticed that he was much taller than she was. He was about six foot, from what she could tell, and she was about five three. She nodded a little, "I won't forget."
"Good. I leave you here. I'll be back at this spot in a week to see how things are going."
"I thought you said to go back to the other place."
Victor grinned slightly, "It's good to know you were listening. Once your memory gets a little stronger, then I'll have you go there. For now, see you back here in a week."
With that, he turned and vanished back in the direction they had come from.
Zeryn watched him as she kept herself up against the tree. She looked down at herself to try and get an idea of what she looked like.
She wasn't very thin, but she wasn't very thick either. She had a more in between body figure and her chest wasn't that big, but enough to show that she was a girl. On her lower right leg was a tattoo of a dragon spun around her leg. She looked at her right wrist and noticed some kind of water related tattoo, the sign Aquarius.
She slid down the tree as she sighed a little, 'What am I to do? Who knows how long I could be out here.' She looked up at the sky, 'At least it's still bright out. Would it be bad to be out here in the dark all by myself?'
'Yes, it would be, young one.' A voice spoke to her inside her mind.
Zeryn quickly leaped to her feet when she heard the voice. She looked to see a man, about the same height as Victor, standing before her. She knew it was the man Victor spoke about because he was bald.
'Do not be afraid. My name is Professor Charles Xavier, and I'm a mutant, just like you.'
'I can hear your thoughts.' Zeryn thought as she looked at him.
'And, I can hear yours as well.' Xavier thought back to her, "You have no reason to be afraid. I have a place for you to stay. Come with me, and you shall be safe there."
Zeryn kneeled down and picked up her messanger bag. She put it over her shoulder, then stood back up and walked over to him.
"I see you have lost your memory." Xavier started off for the mansion, "At least you can remember your name."
"I don't know what happened. I just...appeared here." Zeryn said, trying to cover up the real reason of how she got there.
"No one can simply appear in places. Things have to happen. I have yet to meet a mutant who can teleport themself."
"I really don't remember anything. Just my name."
"At least you 'appeared' in the right place. I have the ability to sense mutants nearby. You seem a bit scared."
"You would be too if some random person came up to you and started to talk to you in your mind."
Xavier laughed lightly, "I do apoligies about that. I want to make sure that other mutants know that I'm like them. I don't want them to be afraid of me. I help educate and teach mutants to find themselves and to become heros."
Zeryn looked up at him, "Will I become one?"
"That depends, do you want to be one?" Xavier looked back at her.
Zeryn looked down for a moment, "At this point in time...I'm not sure."
"Always remember this; everyone is a hero inside. It just takes time for them to find it. Most find it while others don't."
"I'll make sure to remember that." Zeryn looked up when she noticed that the sun light had gotten a bit brighter. Her eyes widened when she noticed a large building in front of them.
"Welcome home." Xavier looked down at her, "Surprised?"
"Is this your home?"
"It's part school and part boarding. All my students live here." Xavier lead her over to the building.
"So, does that mean I'll..."
"PROFESSOR!" A woman with brown hair and long white bangs walked over to them.
Xavier looked over at the woman, "Good afternoon, Rogue. I sense you are upset about something."
"Upset, indeed!" Rogue stopped next to him, "That no good, dirty little thief stole the bracelet Robert gave to me!"
"Are you sure Gambit took it? Are you sure you didn't lose it?"
Rogue put her hands on her hips and gave him a look that said, 'you should know this by now.'
"Anna, why don't you go talk to him."
"You know he won't give it back!"
"Have you ever tried to talk to him?"
Rogue looked away for a moment, "No..."
"Then go talk to him. That's probably the best way to get your things back."
"I request a better lock on my door!"
"Now, Rogue, you know we can't do that due to safety reasons."
"I'd sooner jump out my window than have that little thief steal anymore of my stuff!" It was then that Rogue had taken notice to Zeryn, who seemed a bit interested in the converstation.
"WOO! Girl! You have a killer hair style!" Rogue leaned forward and looked at Zeryn's hair, "I'm very jealous that you can pull off something like that!"
"Um...thank you." Zeryn leaned back a little when she noticed how close Rogue was getting to her.
"Don't worry, girl, I'm not going to touch you. If I did, then I'd end up taking your powers, memories and personality."
"Good luck with that, Rogue. She doesn't have any memory besides her name." Xavier said looking at her.
"WHAT?! THAT'S AWFUL! I'm so sorry to hear that! Oh! Your parents must be so worried about you now. If something comes up about you going missing, then I'll be glad to come with you to your parents house."
"As nice as it is to see you showing sympathy for Zeryn, I should be getting her a room. And, you should go talk to Mr. LeBeau about getting your bracelet back."
"Professor, if it's not too much to ask, can I just take his powers and what not, so he'll leave us alone?"
"No, you can't. Go talk and tell me how things went at dinner this evening. Good day." Xavier looked at Zeryn, "Come now and stay close." He ushered her inside the mansion.
Zeryn looked around in awe as she tried to keep herself from wandering around the large building. She noticed Rogue going past them and up the large stair case that seemed to lead to the area where the students slept.
"This way." Xavier walked off down one of the hallways.
Zeryn quickly followed after him as she looked around at some of the students that were either walking around or were just hanging out in the hall.
Xavier stopped in front of one of the doors, then opened it up, "This is my office. You'll most likely find me in here." He turned on the light, then walked inside.
Zeryn walked in behind him, then sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
Xavier walked over to a filing cabinet, then opened it up, "First, we'll have to make a file on you, then I'll have one of my students show you to your room."
"What about classes?"
"I refuse to let you take classes until your memory gets better. In the mean time, I have a way to help your brain get stronger." He pulled out a new folder and a form, then closed the cabinet drawer. He walked over to his desk, then sat down. He picked up a pen that was sitting on his desk, "I'd like you to fill this out the best you can."
Zeryn watched Xavier push the paper and pen in front of her. She picked up the pen that started to fill out what she knew of herself...which wasn't very much. She looked at the age one and thought, but even she didn't have any idea how old she was. She never saw herself in a mirror yet, so wasn't really sure what to put down.
'Try twenty-two.'
Zeryn looked up at Xavier, 'Is that how old I am?'
'I'll tell you now that I can't find any of your old memories. Honestly, you look younger than twenty, but this will do for now.'
'How old do you think I am?' Zeryn went back to filling out the form.
'In your teens.'
'Is that a good thing?'
'What do you think?'
Zeryn paused for a moment as she stared at the form, "I guess it is."
Xavier sat back in his seat, "We'll get you a state I.D., so you can go anywhere without people questioning."
"Didn't know losing my memory would be so hard." Zeryn sat back in her seat for a moment.
"It's always hard." Xavier looked over at his office door when he saw a man with brown hair and wearing shades standing there, "Can I help you, Scott?"
Scott walked in, then noticed Zeryn, "I'm sorry, professor, I didn't know you had someone in here."
"A new student. But, what do you want?"
"I was wondering if you could help me with some school work I'm having issues with."
"I will after I finish up with the new student."
Zeryn looked at Scott, then tapped the side of her right eye, "Um...why are you wearing sunglasses inside?"
Scott looked down at her, "If I took these off, then I'd zap everyone."
"That sounds scary."
"Don't worry, I won't harm anyone as long as these things stay on. What's your name?"
"I'm Zeryn."
"That's a very nice name."
"Thank you."
"Scott, can you go wait out in the hall until we're done? I promise I'll be with you once I'm done." Xavier said.
"Yes, professor." Scott walked out of the office, then closed the door behind him.
"He's one of my first students. He's a great man. If you need anything and I'm not around, feel free to talk to him."
"Is everyone here really students, or is there more to this than meets the eye?" Zeryn asked as she finished filling out the form.
'That is something you'll find out during your time here.' Xavier took the form from her, then wrote her name on the folder. He put her form in the folder, then stood up, "I'll have Jean come show you to your room."
Zeryn watched him, "How many of them are here?"
"I have students who come and go, but they always find their way back here." Xavier put the folder in the file cabinet, then closed the drawer. He walked over to a book shelf, then looked at his books, "Oh man! I forgot I need to talk to one of my students about something."
'Logan, could you come to my office when you have time?' Xavier thought while he was scanning the shelf.
"What about...um...Scott?"
"I'll have to help him after I speak to the other student. It involves a new class and I want you to be there. I'll make an annoucement about it tomorrow." Xavier took a book off the shelf, then sat down at his desk.
"But, you said that I shouldn't take classes until my memory gets better."
"I think you'll enjoy this class very much." Xavier put the book on the desk in front of Zeryn, "While you're enjoying your time here, I think you should read this."
Zeryn looked at the book, then picked it up, "Alice in Wonderland? I feel like I know this story...but, it's not coming to me."
"Ah! I found something that seems to spark a bit of a fire in your brain. Good. Now, I must warn you that it'll be challenging. It's written in the British English. I'm having you read this because I feel it'll sharpen your memory. Read and write." Xavier put a notebook, a notepad and a pen in front of her, "Your mind will get stronger if you do those things. Use the notebook as a journal and use the notepad to help remind you of things."
Zeryn picked up the things, then put them into her bag, but kept hold of the book, "At least I'll have a way to keep myself busy."
"It would be best for you to try and make friends with the other students. They'll be able to help you out along the way." Xavier looked at the door when he noticed one of his students walked in, "Didn't take you long to get here, Logan."
"I would rather not keep you waiting." Logan walked over to the chair next to the one Zeryn was sitting in, then sat down.
"You're going to have to wait a bit longer until I can get the new girl a room." Xavier held his hand out to Zeryn, "I'll have Jean come and get her."
Logan looked at Zeryn, then back at Xavier, "Good luck with that. She's busy trying to get Gambit to give everyone their stuff back." He sat back in the seat.
"Is that where you've been?"
"Perhaps. Look, something has to be done about this guy!"
"Logan, I understand his little issue, but it's not his fault. I've looked into his memory and found out why he does what he does. It can't be helped."
Logan let out a fustrating sigh, then looked at Zeryn, "I'm sure you'll be told this by almost everyone, but stay away from a guy named Gambit. He'll steal you stuff."
"Sadly, I don't have anything for him to take." Zeryn looked back at him, "I just came here with a bag. That's it."
"Then you are a very lucky girl." Logan turned a little when he noticed Scott coming into the room.
"Are you still busy, sir?" Scott asked.
"I forgot that I need to talk to Logan about something. I promise, once I'm done, I'll help you." Xavier said, "Until then, I need someone to take Zeryn to her room."
Logan looked at Zeryn, "Nice name!"
"Thanks." Zeryn said.
"PROFESSOR!" Rogue ran into the office, "You NEED to come upstairs now! Gambit refuses to give us our stuff back! Do something about it!"
Xavier sighed as he put his fingers on the bridge of his nose, "Even if I did do something about it, it's not going to change who he is!"
"Then kick him out of here!"
"That's not going to happen! He comes and goes as he pleases! He's part of our team, and, more importantly, he has no home and no place to stay."
"Then, I ask permission to take his powers!"
"Permission NOT granted!"
"UGH!" Rogue yelled in fustration.
"Your office really gets busy, doesn't it?" Zeryn asked.
"Unfortunately." Xavier sighed, then reached down to one of the drawers on his desk and opened it. He pulled out a key, then threw it at Rogue, "Since Jean is busy, please show Zeryn to her room. I have to talk to Logan before I can help Scott with his homework."
Rogue caught the keys, "Alright! But, I still didn't get my bracelet back!"
"I'll figure something out! In the mean time, show her to her room."
Rogue looked down at Zeryn, "Come along, then."
Zeryn stood up, then followed Rogue out of the room.
"Scott, wait just a few more minutes. I promise, you'll be the next person I see." Xavier said.
"Just hope I don't end up getting caught up in the mess upstairs." Scott walked over to the door, then closed it on his way out.
"So, what did you want to see me about?" Logan asked.
Xavier leaned forward and put his elbows on his desk, "I have something that might be of great interest to you."