Red-Haired Raven's life

Chapter 1: Birth

(Scanning... )

*Beep*

"Command center, do you repeat command center? This is professor Mendoza reporting another volunteering member to scan through. Will be named Isotope-0444. Codename: Vanessa" buzzzzzzz..."Subject has been comatose since december, pulse rate: Good, Signals: good" buzzzzz...

(Lost transmission..)

"Oh well, we lost them..." Dr. Mendoza announced to his lab assistants who were trying to find another transmissional signal to send to the Headquarters in Northern Europe. He stood from his lab chair and walked over to the stretcher in the corner of the room, Where the lying teenager was. He decided to study her, wondering how she exactly was, She had no bad features. Her long-lashed eyes reached the top of her cheekbones, the arms were carefully placed to cover her chest, her legs carefully crossed to hide her feminine self. Her complexion was fair, yet a little different from the american creations, since her mother was a french actress.

Mendoza couldn't help but wonder exactly how the children felt when they opened their eyes, when they saw their surroundings for the first time after being injected with the cell. It piqued his curiosity, to the brink that he wished sometimes to create one out of tubes sometimes, instead of having volunteers. His glance reviewed every comatosed teenager that was there, some were even adults. It amazed him exactly how far he'd been from those lab-days where he just pondered on the idea of "Abnormal Beings", who were later known as Isotopes.

A slight movement under the cover from the corner stretcher caused his glance to turn towards the monitor that rested right next to the stretcher. The heartbeat slightly increased as the label "Vanessa" slightly faded from the view, into the next signal "Awakening Phase". Catching his breath he turned instantly to face the stretcher again, as the eyes of his new daughter opened.

I guess this is where i come in.

They call me Isotope-0444, the red-haired raven..Such a strange name for someone who doesn't even look like one. A female scientist kept referring me to Vanessa instead, saying that Red-haired raven sounded too aviary for a girl. Father was quite angry with her, but didn't discuss the name any further. They both cared for me in such a way, even a sixteeen year old like me couldn't comprehend all this care.. Father called me special, the lady called me extraordinary, I know i don't remember anything from my past, just this. Father says I've been "Coma-revived" I don't know what exactly that means, but i hope its good. The Female Scientist's name is Eliza, she was the one who kept on conducting test after test, trying to figure out what my ability was. But when she did find out, and reported the results to my father, only one word ran through my mind as he turned to face me.

Freak...

I didn't know how, but I could control other people emotions, manipulate them into believing what i said, making others feel comforted when they needed it. Almost like an actress, but one who actually never got paid for what she did. My mind was mine, yet I never loved who i truly was. This lab is my home, but where exactly was my home? Father said its secluded, that barely anyone knew where exactly we were stationed, but i would always ask, but he never gave me an answer.

I know i'm not the only one who was re-created here, there are other "subjects" coming in from time to time, some of these people ranged from fifteen to twenty-three years of age.. We are mostly ranging in the 400's. Only a few were successful; I was one of them, yet Father was sad. Three of them died once they came out of their dormant states. "It was almost instant.." he said, which only brought chills to my spine. What if i was one of them? I would've never been able to survive this far...

I rested my hand against his shoulder then, and sent calming, relaxing aura wavelengths into his body. He went calm instantly and hugged my arm. "In all, What wonderful creation you are, my love." He said slowly as he regained control of his breathing. I somehow wanted to believe him, but deep down I was still troubled. How could someone like me be special? These people could replace me with far more exquisite powers, he wouldn't need me.

Would he?

Maybe not, But we were in the middle of a war..He sent a few others to do a couple of operations, to fight off halogens. Helli0n's dead isotopes who came back from the dead...the despised mistakes of Helli0n. . At the time, I was about to head into my first mission. I was nervous, scared and even confused. What would someone like me be able to do out in the battlefield, but a few lessons from Isotope-0476 Codename: "Issac", aka. My friend. Taught me how to transfer my aura into the creation of a weapon, in this case Dual blades.

" I hate feeling defenceless against them, so i developed a way to make these knifes." he explained.

"But doesn't it have any bad side effects? I mean, a skill like this tends to have its negatives right?" I questioned.

He raised his hand in attention, for his face seemed a little angered. "This skill has no side-effects alright? Its just simply an illusion of your imagination..." He finalized walking past me without another word, my facial expression must have been of shock, but I didn't feel that. I felt regret and guilt coming out of him. He was my friend, I knew his thoughts and emotions too well that even he didn't know. I ran after him, taking a long route he usually used in running throught the forest, until i felt my feet were just columns of Jelly. Following him into a clearing, I lost my balance and tripped...straight into a pit. So I did the one thing that came upon reaction.

I screamed..

My arms were flailing as I thought of death, and stupidity. But my instints reacted as the dual blades were forming, I slammed the blades into the dirt wall then, slowing down my descent. Sweat began to pour down my head, dirt dusted my hair into a brown sort of color. Gasping was what I could remember doing as I heard hysterical laughing above me. Raising my head a bit, I noticed Issac staring down at me surprised and admiring my instant reaction.

"I see even the raven 'nessa could still manage, under great dire circumstances." He chuckled as he threw down some rope for me, I was almost crying with rage as I climbed, only being hoisted off the dirt with his help. "Issac! What the hell, you could've killed me back there!" I shouted desperately. He only stared at me for a second before turning away and scratched his head.

"Hey, you have to be alert, you can't just expect to wander around here not expecting danger." He turned back and glared. "Life's not going to be easy for Isotopes 'nessa, remember that. Our lives were messed up from the beginning, we act on instincts, not on mental reaction, get it? Don't go screaming at me or crying, simply because I wanted to protect you by testing you." He growled then, turning his head to face the clearing as a strong flush of red burst from his cheeks. "Besides if you fell and bled, I wouldn't let you die, i can revive others by creating blood, or keeping people's hearts alive by using my own blood, remember?" He turned and smiled slightly, as he rubbed my scalp, messing up my hair a bit.

"Mendoza taught us to keep each Isotope safe, even if that meant creating dangerous situations to do so, To protect and Unite..Remember that motto." He said silently.

I knew he was right, I couldn't help but blush slightly at the touch, it was almost a brotherly gesture of compassion. I could feel that my cheeks were wet, and as embarassing as it was to cry, he only held me and let me punch his chest, as I sobbed and screamed "bastard" continuously until tiring out.

My first mission was tough, we had to eliminate one Halogen general named "Colbart" who was threatening on destroying the European-monarch headquarters, I was stationed near the base with Issac, he had his night-star blade and knives ready, My dual blades were enclosed under deep crimson "Sadistic" waves. I could still remember the firing and the screams echoing in my head.

I was shaking with fear, yet my body stayed relaxed, I absorbed the fear and the doubt from everyone around me, and sent out soothing, brave signals of victory, which seemed to boost my base's morale. They relied on me to help, to calm and to motivate. But when the wave of Halogens appeared ready to kill, I froze. I blacked out when I ran towards the first three that were charging towards me.

I heard screams

I heard commands,

I could feel my blades piercing the skin of the enemy as I kicked them away, straight into the other foe that awaited. I must've been covered in enemy blood, for my soul felt it needed to thrive on more blood, more satisfaction in the kill. When that happened, an isotope like me could've lost control, resulting in friendly fire. I could hear people dying all around me, yet i continued to kill every halogen that dared to get into my way. I couldn't figure out who was what anymore.

When the last halogen died, I relaxed, already waves of anguish, hate and relief flashed around me. Some of sadness as comrades died at each other's feet. It was numbing, it hurt. I tried covering my ears with my bloodied hands, realizing Issac was nowhere to be found. I turned my head trying to find him, but he wasn't near, so i picked myself off the ground and walked to where i thought I'd find him, I checked in his quarters, checked in the halls, checked in the kitchen, even checked behind the base. He wasn't there, where was he?

I checked the last place with fear. The clinic.

I ran inside as i fought my way past stretchers and nurses, people all around me were sending waves of agony, despair and hatred, i could even feel the touch of death as some died right before my eyes. It hurt to think here, but i had to find Issac. So i stumbled further in, until i found him... He was lying face up and screaming in pain, His right arm was battered, and he lost his leg, his abdomen supported a very deep gash you could almost see inside. I covered my mouth instantly, the tears fell suddenly, my heart was in pain. Just seeing him there took a deep toll on me, I ran to him and hugged his flailing body, I cried and screamed as i absorbed his pain, as I took in his agony, I could feel his body slowly regaining blood, but it wouldn't help him. Irony was going to kill him.

I sent sad wavelengths to him, soothing and painful ones too, he grasped my back and squeezed hard, pressing my chest to his. I could barely breath as i felt the last of his pain erase from within him. He shut his eyes and whimpered quietly, his hold had become limp and weak. I backed away an inch and looked at him, He was breathing slowly and very quietly, I feared he died. But he opened his eyes and stared at me, a sad smile emerged from his lips. "Sorry you have..to see m-me like this..." He chuckled, wincing from the sudden pain it caused his lungs.

"Please don't talk...please don't..." I whimpered, holding his hand up and enclosing it on mine, he gave a soft squeeze, which sent the tears flowing once more. "You'll get better, all you have to do is give yourself more blood remember?" I whispered. But i could feel the blood flowing weakly into his hand, for he was growing pale. "My power's weakening...I can't create all the blood i've already lost." He said sadly, as he cupped my cheek. "No, you'll get better! don't say you can't, you can!" I sobbed as I kissed his hand. He only stared at me, pushing my face closer to his, as he slowly began to cry as well. "Accept death Vanessa...It happens when you're an Isotope..." He said quietly.

"But i don't want you to die on me brother!" I said, desperately trying to make sure he kept looking at me, for he was looking close to dying. He only smiled and chuckled. "Funny, here i thought i could've been...more..." He finished as his lips almost touched mine, but his breath died down into nothing. I gasped in shock, but raised myself up and bowed my head down in grief.

My hand covered his eyes, bringing his eyelids down to sit in eternal sleep, The numbing pain of loss was new to me, it stung my heart so much it felt like a damn train wreck. I continued to hold his hand as i released it on his chest, placing it over his heart in respect. Good-bye Issac, you were always the greatest.

ALERT, ALERT

SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS HEADING TO ONE OF OUR SISTER BASES, ALL UNINJURED ISOTOPES ARE TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY FOR BRIEFING.

"Please make it there in time, there really isn't much resistance between the halogens and the base, bring any other isotopes you can find along with you." Dr. Mendoza explained to the screen. " Yes sir, we'll be there soon Sir!" The general exclaimed, shutting down the transmission as he headed to the main entrance, there were already a couple of isotopes there, one of them seemed very distant from the others. She just stared off into the clearing.

He gave her a quick examination with his eyes, but turned to signal to the others to follow him, they broke off into a sprint heading to the location.

They almost reached the location until a sudden shockwave caused everyone to fall to the ground, the general had been close, unfortunate enough to become unconsious. One of the isotopes grabbed him and shielded both of them in a barrier. "We have to get to the base, quickly, find out who sent that attack!" He commanded, sending three of the isotopes scattering into the woods to find the culprit. The others formed a circle around the barrier, as another shockwave came and knocked the air out of the girl that was in front of him. She held her ground, but shook herself from the pain it sent through her. "This seems like it could be the Halogen general, Ben-0432" Vanessa said, turning her head to face the isotope inside the barrier. He stared at her for a second in shock and worry, not only was a halogen general nearby, but this girl looked like she was about to commit something stupid. "Understood, everyone be ready to fight if he gets close-" An isotope was flailing his arm to get his attention, he was carrying an unconsious girl with his other arm. He realized was one of the three he sent into the forest after the attack had commenced. "Ben, Amanda has been knocked down, I couldn't find Marx," He announced afraid with fear, before setting the girl down next to another isotope who bent over her and examined the scar on her head.

Suddenly, a medium-sized boulder appeared out of nowhere, falling on the isotopes as Vanessa and another noticed its presence, they both reacted instantly, The guy used his levitational skill and raised her high into the air. With a yell, Vanessa kicked the rock as hard as she could, sending it towards an unsuspected target that was emerging from the woods, Isotope Zack-0445 noticed her sudden expression of shock and turned his head towards the targeted character, when the Boulder smashed into the surprised halogen general. He laughed suddenly as he pointed and laughed, the others cleared to Ben that the target was "Unexpectedly terminated" Causing him to laugh hysterically. He brought down the shield and grabbed the unconsious general, carrying him on his back, Vanessa was still in the air as she came down, releasing her dual blades, she threw them down onto the ground, causing the blades to stick to the earth, Flipping forward into an 180, she stepped precisely on the hilt's of her weapons, suspending her fall, she jumped down into the secured ground.

Despite the fortunate event, when they arrived at the base they found nothing attacking it, this sent a couple of them confused. The general awoke then and got down from the helping isotope, to scan the outside of the base, before laying his hand on the detecting device, authorizing his entrance he waited until all the isotopes headed inside before he went in himself.

The lab seemed alright to him, but there was a huge mess in the center where the controls of the station were. He searched through the piles for any messages that could've been left behind by Mendoza, as the other isotopes looked around in the seperate rooms, even the re-revive room that created them, they were looking for a clue, Anything to conclude where their father had been.

Only one wasn't searching, Vanessa stayed behind the general the whole time the others dispersed into the other locations. Her eyes glowed deep red with unmistakable rage, as she suddenly covered the general's mouth, muffling any sound that emerged from him. Using her other hand she snapped his neck, then released him as he dropped dead. She heard footsteps next door, as the other isotopes headed further inside the lair. Smirking she created her dual blades and walked quietly into three rooms, wiping out four isotopes by detatching their heads clear from their bodies. She wiped the blood from her eyes, and her blades as she descended down the staircases into the basement of the floor, heading into a room where she heard three people talking. One of them was the isotope that helped her eliminate the halogen general, the others were two scientists that managed to stay behind.

Her eyes dialted, as she took three strides and slashed the surprised isotope, crossing her blades into an X, his top half slid off his body as the bottom half fell down. The action caused the other scientists to scream and beg for their lives. "Shut up...Where's mendoza?" She sneered, as she raised a weapon to both of their necks.

"We, we don't know!" One exclaimed.

"Please don't do this!" the second begged.

Vanessa inched the blades closer, taking one step towards them she lowered her voice. "I'm not going to ask again, where did mendoza go?" She glared, the scientists eyed each other in farewell.

"He left somewhere, said he-he" One paused.

"Said he was tired of this, that the isotopes were becoming nothing to him. So he just... just l-left, he never even gave us notice about it" the second one finished.

Vanessa's eyes had become crimson as she yelled, slashing their necks then stabbing their faces repeatedly. She cursed Mendoza, yelled in fury that he wasn't here. He wasn't there when Issac died, he wasn't there when Eliza conducted the tests, he was starting to become quite distant when her first mission was about to begin, she had a premonition about this, but avoided it.

Why did she avoid it?

Why didn't she do anything to help Issac?

Her being there only made her powerless, watching him die was like watching her only family fade away.

All she knew was that she was losing her mind in the fury of insanity, of loss and despair, she needed to eliminate this pain, this agony...And she knew the only way she could. She set fire to the whole building, everything..even the dead comrades and the scientists. Everyone would disappear for now...she would just go back and be silent about this whole thing. If people questioned, let them question. She wouldn't answer, couldn't answer.

She glanced down at the rubble as the flames caused the columns to collapse, the roof capsize into the structure, she scratched her clothes and smeared herself in blood to make it seem like she barely made it out alive, she even caused a few scars on her back and cut a thin line across her cheek. When she seemed qualifiable for leaving, she turned from her past and walked back to the base, passed the boulder and the dead general, stopping, she bent down and tore off fabric from his clothes with his insignia on it. To prove your dead bastard... She turned back to see the smoke tower in the sky, the surroundings started smelling like death and forest dew mixed together.

This day would forever be her little secret, she knew she would do this again.. but not for satisfaction... No, she would do this again for more.. but would she need a reason?

Never...