For young Vesper pain had become a part of her everyday life her late parents had given her that name, but where she was from names weren't allowed because that meant that you were someone she was simply known as mutant 4725, she had been taught that she was nothing. Vesper had been born into the life of a lab rat, she had never been given the chance to see the outside world all she ever knew was the facility. Vesper lay in a corner of her small dark and dank cell as fresh tears streamed from her red and swollen eyes she lay remembering the day her life had changed for the worse, if that was possible. She and a few fellow captives decided that they were going to try to escape unfortunately their plan was foiled. Some were never seen again while others their screams of pain and agony sent chills down your spine as they rang throughout the halls. Vesper's pain was not to be of the physical variety but rather emotional and her prize was to witness the murder of her family. Despite the fact that she was being held back by two of the strongest guards at the facility she still attempted to break their hold. The last thing that she remembered was three loud gunshots, pain, and then slipping into a black oblivion. That had been almost a year ago and still her mind played it over like it had just happened yesterday. Vesper was one of the few that were kept alive at last count there was little more than two captive though their minds had drove them to end their suffering. Vesper lay on the cold concrete floor she would cry herself to sleep yet another night, silently she prayed for an end to all of this she had been left for dead but was too stubborn to give in if anyone is there please help she prayed before closing her eyes.

Life at the Xavier mansion slowly but surely started to piece itself back together after recent tragic events. Night time had descended over the mansion allowing the children a break from their studies. Professor Charles Xavier, the founder of the school was up in his office mulling over some much overdue paper work when he was hit by what seemed like an unseen force. It was a simple but powerful cry for help, no cry for help would ever go unanswered at Xavier's. After an hour of searching he roughly located the weakening cry for help to an abandoned military jail in Canada through Cerebro. Alerting the team they suited up and were ready for another mission. Being on the jet brought back bad memories for all but especially for their team leader Scott Summers, he still found it hard to be on the jet, their only focus was to rescue the young girl and bring her back to the mansion. None of them knew of the horrors that awaited them inside. The base was located just outside of the country in the province of Nova Scotia from the outside it looked dark and ominous. The team consisted of Logan, Scott, Storm, Kurt, Beast, Bobby and Rogue. Beast or better known as Hank McCoy stayed behind in the jet and proceeded to set up for the arrival of the young girl, after the death of Jean Grey he had taken over as the school's doctor.
"Alright Storm, Logan you're with me. Kurt, Bobby and Rouge you three stick together." ordered Scott.
If there was a distinctive smell to death it was defiantly lingering in the air for Logan being in a place like this brought back many unsettling memories for him. They stood outside the ominous facility the doors that once kept the horrors inside no longer were there. Stepping in front of the doors Cyclops directed a beam slicing through it as if it were butter.

The team of Kurt, Bobby and Rogue were sent to retrieve any of the files they were able to locate that pertained to young Vesper or anything else at the base. All they were able to scrounge up were a few very detailed journals of various experiments and the results and a rather large stack of files and a small leather box that was locked.
"Oh my god, how could someone do this to another human?" Rogue asked clearly distraught.
"People fear what they do not understand Rogue." Kurt's voice was filled with sadness and that knowledge came with experience.
"Poor girl." at that Bobby pulled his girlfriend in close to him.
They had come to get all they could there was nothing more they could do. Kurt grabbed a hold of both teens teleporting them back to the jet. Rogue took a seat near the front of the jet occasionally a sob would escape her. She knew the world was cruel but seeing the horrors written on paper seemed to make it all the worse. Hank quickly skimmed a journal on a small table what he saw made his blood boil. Hank would have his work cut out for him tonight between fixing up his patient and going through the files it was going to be a long night.

Logan stood still, one eyebrow raised slightly higher than the other as he sniffed hard at the air.

"Logan what is it?" Storm knew that he had picked up on something that they couldn't.
"Blood and its fresh too." taking one last sniff he took off running down the corridor.
"Logan get back here!" called Scott as he and Storm chased after him.
Stopping at one particular cell door Logan began to slash at the hinges, but was pushed aside by Scott who directed a small beam at each hinge sending the door crashing to the floor with such a noise that it rang throughout the abandoned base. Inside of the small cell lay the young girl they had been sent to rescue fear was most evident in her eyes. Despite the fact that she had been chained to the floor and left to die Vesper managed to maneuver into the corner causing the metal to cut deeper into her ankles. Blasting the chains off the young mutant girl she moved further away from them if that was possible. Sensing her fear Logan carefully approached the young girl slowly not wanting to spook her anymore then what she was.
"It's alright kid we ain't going to hurt you." upon not receiving a response he crouched down to her level Logan stuck his hand out for her to grab onto "Come on kid, you're safe now."
Looking into his eyes somehow Vesper understood that he wasn't trying to trick her or anything. Slowly she reached a small shaky hand out and grabbed onto Logan's. Slowly he pulled her to her feet. Now that she was standing they all got a good look at her she looked to be no more than sixteen, her tiny frame shook with much force. The poor girl's body had been through hell and back, no sooner did she fall slump in Logan's arms. Gently he scooped her tiny fragile frame up and started back for the Black bird earning a look from both Scott and Storm.
"Who knew he had a soft side?"
"Shut it one-eye!" he growled as he purposely bumped into him in passing.
Once inside of the X-jet Logan pushed past everyone and gently laid the girl down on a small cot in the back where Beast was waiting. Taking a quick look at her Hank took a few mental notes nothing that she was severely malnourished and had a number located on her wrist. Upon further examination it looked like it was burnt into the child's flesh.
"I'll do my best for our young friend here, for now it is best if I had all the room I could get. You're in good hands now my dear." that said Hank started to patch his patient up. Only once did she wake up during the examination only to have Mr. McCoy sedate her as a precaution he didn't want her freaking out. Hank took pity upon the young child there was no logical reason for her to go through what she had.

Once back at the safety of the mansion Hank worked round the clock to repair the physical damage done to the young girl to the best of his ability. Ivs of various types had been hooked up to replenish fluids, multiple vials of blood had been drawn for testing purposes, the amount of stitches to close open wounds made him lose count. The Professor, Hank and Logan all sat around a table in the med lab.
"Chuck I thought you said this kind of thing stopped!" growled Logan
"As did I. Though I don't believe their acting under any Government direction... at least not anymore." Xavier responded casting a glace at the young girl that laid a few feet away
"Those bastards did this to that kid under their own orders!" anger was most evident
"I'm afraid so Logan." there was notable sadness in Xavier's words

The three of them started to pick up a file or two that had been brought back with them until the Professor looked over at the young teenager as her eyes fluttered open slowly, her surroundings were unfamiliar to her. Where am I? Oh god... no... It's another lab I've been brought to a lab... no their going to kill me! The Professor could hear the frantic thoughts that ran through the young mutant's head. Wheeling himself over to where her she lay she started to whimper as he got closer, her eyes began to dart around the room as she regained her focus despite being born in a lab there was something different about the way this one felt.

Hank moved one of his large hands to see how her wounds were healing, she was so frightened by the big blue man's appearance and his lab coat she quickly jumped off the table she was laying on ripping out the ivs that had been hooked up only to find herself pinned between the three men who stood before her and a dead end sinking to the floor she erected a highly electrical force field around herself zapping his hand in the process, the lights in the room began to flicker on and off, a few of the bulbs burst it was as if some unseen force was at work. Logan stood at the Prof's side his claws drawn at the ready. All Vesper could do was stare at the claws before her with wide eyes. Where the hell am I what kind of place has us working on our own kind?
"Amazing" Hank said under his breath rubbing his hand.
"Relax, my friend you're safe now." Xavier had a kind and warm smile on his face that seemed to be genuine. "Logan would you mind putting those away?"
"You're lying!" the Professor shook his head no, her eyes were fixed on Hank McCoy who sported a long white lab coat.
"No quite the opposite my dear, you've been brought to my school for the gifted. My name is Charles Xavier, I'd like to offer you a place to stay where you would be safe."
"What do you get in return?" she sounded skeptical of the whole idea.
"In return I would help you control your gift and give you a place to live. If you wouldn't mind Hank here should really take care of those wounds" he gestured towards the large blue man
"You would do that for me? Why"
"Vesper, not everyone is the same; there are people in this world who only wish to help."
"Wait how do you know my name?" she asked
"I will explain all in time for now I'll let you rest after our doctor Hank here takes care of you. Logan could you carry her over to a bed?"

Logan walked slowly over to her with his hands up to show her no ill will, her hand was bleeding rather badly careful not to come into contact with it he carried her over to a more comfortable bed. Hank felt sorry for the young girl she looked like a frightened child he worried about scaring her worse then what she already was. Hank slowly took a seat near the side of the bed and gently began to clean the fresh wounds she had expected for him to have hurt her but nothing of the sort came to be. Reinserting the iv's Hank set up fresh bags and hooked her up to a monitor before taking note of her current vital signs. Vesper quickly nodded off back to sleep Logan and the Professor had left leaving Hank who only was going to start reading the large stack of files that were slightly overflowing. Pouring himself a rather large cup of coffee he sat down in a chair that threatened to break under his weight and opened the first file and settled down to what was going to be another long night. Occasionally he would tear his eyes away when a slight whimper would escape her, at first it was only a slight noise but he grew concerned when she stared whimpering like a hurt animal Hank alerted the Professor before he gently tried to wake his patient.

"Vesper, wake up your having a bad dream it's ok just listen to my voice." She woke to no avail he stole a quick glance at the monitor he heart rate was slowly climbing whatever she was dreaming about truly bothered her the look on her face tore straight at his heart.

The Professor entered the med lab and wheeled himself over to where the young girl twisted about on the bed the whimpering had changed to a moaning placing a gentle hand on her shoulder he tried to wake her without using his powers Xavier had a strict code of ethics that he followed when it came to the use of his powers. Shaking her with slight force seemed to slightly bring her back to reality calmly the Professor called her name as if he was speaking to a child. Sighing the professor lightly pinched the inside of her arm she started to stir out of the fog rolling her head back and forth her eyes fluttered open closing quickly at the harsh light above noticing her discomfort Hank dimmed the lights and returned to read her vitals which remained slightly high but had stopped climbing. Picking up a stethoscope Hank placed it around his neck Vesper eyed him slightly but turned her attention to the professor as he spoke.

"Breathe and listen to the sound of my voice." Her breathing began to slow "Relax no one here is going to hurt you. Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry" she looked down at her hands in shame

"You have nothing to apologize for my dear, Hank here is just going to check your vitals." She hesitated before nodding her head.

Hank instructed her to lean forward as he warmed the stethoscope before placing it on her back, she jerked forward slightly at the touch of fur. Her skin felt rather warm, slightly warmer than that of normal temperature helping her lay back in the bed Hank placed a hand on her forehead it too was warmer than normal. She shivered slightly as a chill went down her spine Hank left for a moment returning with a large blanket.
"Sir, how did you know my name before?" she asked pulling the covers up closer to her
"You see Vesper I'm what you call a telepath." He noticed her demeanor changed at learning that fact which worried him he had never seen a reaction like that before. He knew that the next few months were going to be long and hard for this young girl and he would do anything within his power to guide her through this. Xavier studied her face for a moment before continuing "If you'd allow me I'd like to place a shield around your mind I can block the nightmares temporarily." Vesper gulped down the lump that had formed in her throat that would mean he'd be able to hurt you. Don't do it you don't know these people her conscious screamed at her. Vesper had never met a telepath that didn't try to harm her in anyway, but there was something different about the man in front of her he had a genuine calmness that seemed to radiate from him. "I have a strict code of ethics that I follow I'd never use my gift to harm you."

"Would it hurt?"

"No my dear I'm simply going to place a barrior around the part of your mind that's causing your nightmares"

"O—ok"

"I want you to close your eyes and relax your mind." His voice sounded like velvet "I'm not going to hurt you"

The Professor waited a few moments before setting to work, once inside her mind he went straight to business. Xavier calmly guided her through it just as he was placing the last barrior he could felt her concentrating on something with incredible will. Somehow she had learned to block part of her memory out from others but he could sense parts of it leaking out, his mind had merely brushed it and it was like some invisible force pushed him away from that part of her mind quickly he placed a shield around what she tried to keep at bay from him as discreetly as possible before he severed the connection. Vesper looked up at him with tearful eyes it was over in a flash, she pushed the tears back from where they came.

"Alright my dear why don't you rest for now. You're in the best hands" he said looking over at Hank who was preparing to run blood tests her temperature was up he needed to run test to be sure of what it was..

"Yes sir." She said being used to the rule of authority was to be addressed by as sir.

It wasn't long after the Professor had left that she fell into a dreamless sleep something that made her feel slightly safe.

Vesper was woken up by the morning's sun blinding her making her shield her eyes. When she fully woke up, she realized that she no longer was attached to an IV nor was she in the med lab down stairs, taking in her surroundings she found herself in a room by herself tucked into a large bed exploring the room a bit further she found a note in the bathroom with new clothes and toiletries, getting showered she locked the door behind her precautions had to be made still. Letting the hot water cascade over her body she felt her tired and sore muscles loosen. Shutting the water off she shivered as she reached of a towel and quickly dried off and got dressed in the clothes provided she was fashioned in a pair of black pants and a matching hoodie both adorned and gold X. Looking out the window she saw the most beautiful tree it looked perfect for sitting. She made her way out to the backyard careful not to run into anyone and sat under that magnificent oak tree, hiding from the summers' heat. She was enjoying the silence when out of nowhere appeared out of thin air what appeared to be a dark blue demon, scaring poor Vesper so much that it brought her to her feet ready for a fight causing her to try to create another shield but she still was rather weak at the moment.
"Whoa, relax, I just saw that you were alone, you seemed like you needed a friend." said the dark blue mutant who was known as Night Crawler. He had a thick German accent when he spoke.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"You're new here aren't you?" he asked.
"Yeah"
"I'm Kurt Wagner or Night Crawler."
"I'm Vesper."
"Ah, Evening, a beautiful name" Kurt could sense the girl's uneasiness "The Professor is a good guy he's helped a lot of people including yours truly." he said smiling.
"He seems okay I guess." Vesper had a major problem trusting people which you couldn't blame her for.
"You don't think you can trust him do you?"
"Honestly?"
Kurt only shook his head indicating yes.
"No, I'm not really sure, I don't know if I can trust him. He seems to want to help me, but that's the thing no one can ever be sure if they can or cannot trust someone."
Kurt swallowed his words nearly chocking on them, but he decided that he was going to go for it. "You sound like you're speaking from experience."
Vesper didn't feel like being around anyone anymore well at least for the moment she didn't.
"If you don't mind I think that I just want to be alone right now, so if anyone is looking for me I'll be up in my room." she said to Kurt who was hardly able to hear her words. That's if I can find it!
She left the beautiful backyard and headed back up to her room. She sat down on the floor facing the window as tears rolled down her face she missed her family so much. She knew that she would never be able to hug them or ever hear their voices again; she was going through a tough time and everything was new territory to her. She remained seated on the floor remembering the many memories that she had with her family, but a knocking on the door interrupted her. It was the blue elf that she had just met.
"Vesper are you coming to supper?" he called from out in the hallway.
"No I'm ok." she said still sitting on the floor
"You sure you're not going to come down?"
Sitting on the floor her stomach began to talk for her, she really hadn't had a decent meal ever.
"Maybe I will." she opened the door slightly
"You okay Fraulin?" his question baffled her no one was supposed to care about her she was nothing.
"What? Oh yeah, it's nothing. I'm sorry."
Kurt felt sorry for the girl the Professor had explained to the staff and students what he had found out about her which really wasn't much. She hadn't met any of the students yet, something that she was about to face Kurt had made sure to bring her down after the majority of the children ate Xavier didn't want to end up putting too much stress on the young girl at once she had already been through enough. Walking down to the large room where they usually ate Kurt noticed a number on her wrist he didn't want to ask about it but it did bug him for he knew what it meant. Pushing open the doors to the large room Vesper saw that there were more people then she had thought there would be. It was mostly the adults and a few of the older children.
"Everyone I'd like your attention, this is our newest student Vesper." the Professor introduced her, she felt awkward standing there
"Uh hi." she said shyly not looking at anyone in particular.
"Vesper after dinner I'd like to talk with you for a moment in my office."
"Uh, did I do something?" she was worried he'd say yes
"No, nothing like that I'd like to go over a few details about your staying here." there was visible relief in her appearance.
Dinner quickly commenced Vesper hadn't seen anything like this before there was so much food that it was unbelievable. She had never seen that much food in her life. Wow where did they get all of this? The Professor smirked at her comment being new here it was always over whelming for the student. She really didn't have very strong social skills it was something that was going to have to be worked on as well as a few other things. During her stay at the compound they rarely gave her food so she found it rather hard to stomach a few of the foods set out before her. The food felt so unusual it was like she had died and gone to heaven. She had never tasted food like this.

After supper had finished the Professor had called Vesper to his office. Inside the office were several of the staff members like Scott, Storm, Beast, Kurt and the man who had the claws. Knocking softy on the door before stepping inside she was quite caught off guard by everyone's presence.
"Please take a seat Vesper. I'd like to introduce to you to the faculty." the Professor introduced everyone as Vesper took a seat by the door. The Professor made a mental note that her social skills were going need some working on that would come later.
"Y-you said you wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes, there are a few details we have to go over such as your schooling." Vesper hung her head in complete shame she had never gotten the chance to go to school what little she knew she learned from her parents "It's alright we'll work that out, a few of the students were in the same situation as you are. Now I'd like to talk about your classes. Scott would be teaching you Math, Storm will be History, Logan will teach self-defense after you've recovered enough, Hank will be your Science teacher I will be teaching English, is there any other class you'd like to take?" all of this was coming at her so fast.
"N-no." she decided until she really knew these people she wouldn't get too chummy with them she was going to make it her mission to play keep a away from the big blue ape.
"Alright, I'd like you to attend a sort of therapy session if you'd like to call it with our doctor Hank McCoy or myself." well there goes that idea out the window she thought to herself.
Vesper sat there by the door she didn't like the sound of that at all at the lab they often did their own version of a "therapy" session every time that it was her turn she fought it like hell. The girl's thoughts were so unfocused and loud that he couldn't help but pick them up. Charles sat behind his desk he felt sorry for Vesper she had no one that she could turn to she was alone in a world that prosecuted you because you were different.
"I can assure you that nothing like that would happen, you don't have to worry about that happening again you're safe here."
"You." she wasn't going to let Hank near her no matter what. He had medical knowledge and frankly that scared her.
"Alright, I'll keep that room as yours. I'd like to talk to our newest student alone for a moment." Charles waited till everyone left the room now it was just the two of them "Do you wish to talk about it?"
"What?" a woman of few words.
"There's something that you've been thinking about, I can feel it." Vesper realized that she had been but would he be able to help her?

"No sir."

"Please there is no need to call me sir, Professor is fine."

"Sorry." she hung her head and looked at the floor

"Tomorrow morning we'll start your sessions."

Vesper still did not fully trust everyone here. She was still unsure of both Xavier's and Hank's motives were they really there to help her or was it all just a ruse?