Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel or the characters it's associated with.

AN: Finally A New Post! Sorry for taking so long, I will try to get back in the grove of things and post regularly.

Michael returned to the base with a smile on his face. He would soon have his revenge on the soulless creature that took his family. Walking in, he was greeted by Sergeant Finn and Doctor Lynch. "How did the test go?' Lynch asked carrying a clipboard to take notes on the encounter.

"Just like we planned doc," he continued to grin as he spoke crossing his arms. "She kept trying to go for the killing blow but you're programming or whatever worked"

"So she was unable to fight you no matter what?" Finn asked finding that hard to believe. Knowing the girl's track record, X-23 would have fought back with everything she had.

Michael didn't like Finn. It was as if the Sergeant thought the clone was a human with a soul. Someone who could feel remorse and pain. "She got a few hits in but nothing too serious,"

"And you were able to deliver the trigger phrase?" Lynch asked ignoring Finn. If the doc had his way Finn would have been off this project long ago but unfortunately Finn had ties and wanted to be on this project for reasons unknown.

Turning his attention to the doctor, Michael smiled. "Would I have come back if I hadn't?"

"I'll play with her programming a little more before you meet her again" Lynch said making notes on his clipboard with a smile. "Next time she shouldn't be able to hurt you at all and should do everything you tell her,"


"Julian? Can you hear me?" Julian heard a voice say to him as he slowly opened up his eyes. The figures around him were blurry and he felt like he had died. Maybe he had considering how white everything seemed, but when he went to sit up he felt the pain in his side and winced.

"What happened?" He asked as the figures became clear and he recognized where he was. The Institute's medical lab. There were sighs of relieve and smiling faces as he looked around the room. Cessily, Santo, Brian, Dr. McCoy, but the one face he was looking for wasn't there.

"The psycho girl stabbed you dude," Santo said leaning against the wall on Julian's left while Cessily and Brian took the chairs that were on either side of Julian's bed.

"She's not a psycho" Cessily stated giving Santo a stern look.

Santo just huffed at her. "Are you kidding me? She stabbed him out of nowhere!" Cessily slapped his arm

before turning her attention back to Julian.

At the mention of being stabbed, Julian's mind flashed back to that moment. He remembered walking along side Laura when she had grabbed him around the throat. He hadn't even had time to react when he felt the girl's claws slide through him like he was a piece of meat. "How am I still a live?" Julian knew that when Laura attacked it was always for the killing blow. He shouldn't have been still breathing. "Where's Laura?"

"Logan saved you" Dr. McCoy said casually jumping in to the conversation as he went over to check Julian's vitals. "When Laura stabbed you, he quickly reacted by picking Laura up and throwing her across the grounds making her pull her claws out of you. While they fought, Logan mentally contacted Frost who quickly came followed by a trail of students. Frost ended up knocking Laura out after getting passed some of her mental shields before the battle got too intense and you're friends here helped you to the infirmary" He paused taking some notes on his clipboard.

Hearing a knock at the door, everyone turned their attention to the person carrying a tray. "Is he awake?"

"Sofia!" Julian said in surprise forgetting all about Laura and his recent injury trying to get up, tugging on a few wires making them beep and causing his wound to hurt. He winced grabbing for his stomach. Cessily couldn't help but roll her eyes at Julian. He was anything, but settle when it came to girls he liked. Brain just smiled and shook his head while Santo let out a laugh.

"Calm down Mr. Keller," Dr. McCoy said putting a reassuring hand on Julian's shoulder. "You're going to pull your stitches,"

"I thought you might like some lunch" Sofia said coming into the room with a smile.

"I'm…gonna go check on Laura" Cessily said standing from her chair. "Brian, Santo you coming?" Brian stood from his chair to follow Cessily while Santo just stayed there.

When Brian and Cessily looked at him, he simply replied with, "I'm not going any where near that psycho while she still has claws,"

"You're scared of her? You're made of rock" Brian said giving a slight laugh as he gestured to Santo's appearance.

"I don't care. I'm staying as far away as possible" Santo said crossing his arms over his chest as he gave a quick glance to the floor singling he was staying where he was.

"Which is wise" Dr. McCoy said causing everyone in the room to look at him. "Ms. Kinney is in no position for visitors at the moment"

Dr. McCoy's statement snapped Julian out of his Sofia only world and caused him to come back down to reality. "Wait, what are you talking about? Where's Laura?"

"She's in a holding cell, Mr. Keller,"


Laura paced in her cell trying to stay in control of herself. Half of her wanted to let the animal take over while the other was fighting to stay human. Emma and Logan were talking to each other a few feet away from her cell so she could hear them but she wasn't paying attention. It was too hard right now due to the second she did she started to lose control. She knew she had to stay in control but it was getting harder every second. "I told you what would happen Logan," Emma told him in her icy tone that she seemed to save for special circumstances.

"Keeping her locked up like this isn't going to help her" Logan pointed out trying to keep his cool. Seeing Laura locked up like this was something he promised himself he'd never let happen again. He was one of the only people who knew of Laura's past and what she went through.

"Helping her isn't my concern. Protecting my students is" She glanced at Laura before turning back to Logan. "She attacked a student Logan, you're lucky all I did was lock her up" Emma turned her back on him and headed back up to the upper levels. "If she's not under control in the next couple of days you know what I have to do" She disappeared leaving Laura and him alone.

It took all of Logan's restraint to just stand there and bite his tongue, but he had to. If he had said the wrong thing to the ice queen he wouldn't be able to help Laura. Turning to her, he watched as she paced back and fourth. "How you feeling kid?" He asked walking up to her cell. Laura eyes narrowed as she heard him speak and she leapt at the bars attempting to grab him but he stepped out of reach just in time. She growled at him, banging her fist against the cell before extending her claws trying to break the bars. "It won't work It's made to hold people like us, adamantium bars,"

"Let me out!" She growled at him retracting her claws and grabbing the bars, shaking them. Her voice sounded inhuman.

"That an't my call kid, you need to calm down," Logan was trying really hard to remain cool and pretend her current state wasn't affecting him, but it was hard. "I can help you"

"I do not want, nor need your help Weapon X!" She growled out in anger shaking the bars again before a sudden wave of pain entered her brain and she fell to her knees clutching her head, closing her eyes. After a second, she opened her eyes and looked up at Logan. "I..I can't control- ahhh" She screamed again feeling another wave of pain.

Laura didn't understand what was happening to her. It was as if the weapon was taking over. The same order kept coming into her head. Kill every mutant.

Watching her, Logan became even more considered. He squatted down so he would be level with Laura. "It's okay, you're gonna be okay," Logan grabbed one of the bars still looking at her, his eyes softening slightly toward her. If it had been just about anyone else in the cage he wouldn't be showing any sign of compassion or anything toward them. Remaining cold as stone, but it was different with the clone. She was apart of him. She'd been through the same stuff as him, worse even. "What's happening?"

Still holding her skull in pain, she found the will power to move to the farthest corner of the cell away from Logan. "You…need to…leave" She said slowly taking short breaths between each word grinding her teeth feeling the urges start to come over her again. Letting out a sigh, he stood and started to leave knowing she wasn't going to talk to him. Her walls were up at full force and she wasn't going to talk now.

Laura closed her eyes and tried to remember what had happened. She remembered fighting the intruder and falling off the roof. She remembered him holding her and whispering something in her ear and then it was as if something snapped, taking over. She had stabbed Julian…the one person besides Logan who seemed like he actually cared or maybe she was just imagining it. Something she wanted to see considering how Julian had treated her in the past, but still, apart of her wished it was true. Some sense of humanity she hung on to. "Is he alive?" Laura asked, her voice lower then a whisper.

Logan was almost at the elevator doors when he heard her finally speak. He turned his head to look at her. The older generation could see she was falling for the boy even if she didn't realize it. Part of him was glad she was starting to feel real human emotions but the parental side wanted to kill the boy, though considering the recent events Keller was most likely staying as far away as possible. "Yeah, he's alive" With that he turned his head back and continued to the upper levels.

Hearing Logan say that, Laura suddenly felt torn. Part of her was angry that he was alive while the other was grateful. You know you want to kill him. Him and all his friends. Laura tried to suppress the voice and thoughts but it was hard when everything in her was telling her it was right. She did want to kill him and everyone else around her. It was in her programming, her nature. You know how good it will feel to just let go. Lose control for just a few minutes. "Shut up" She told herself staying in the corner with her knees pulled to her chest, arms wrapped around them. Everything around her was quite, nothing to distract her from listening to herself so she just focused on the one thing she could. The way she felt when she realized she had killed her mother. All the pain and hurt she had felt.


As soon as Dr. McCoy and Sofia left to help with a Danger Room injury, Julian was throwing the covers aside and getting out of his bed. He winced as the action caused him pain but he continued heading for his clothes. "Julian, what are you doing?" Cessily asked giving him a "are you crazy?" look that seemed to mirror the rest of the room.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to go see Laura" Julian said ignoring the pain as he slid on his shirt and started buttoning it up. Next came the shoes which went on a little easier once he remembered to sit down to do it.

Brian watched his friend not liking where his actions where taking him. It was apparent to Brian that Julian's mind was always on Laura lately especially while he slept which if kept up could possibly turn into a crush if it hadn't already. Brian was trying his hardest not to let it get that far. "Dr. McCoy said she couldn't have visitors,"

Julian turned toward the door facing his friends. "Does it look like I care?"

"What is it with this girl?" Brain asked seeing the look of determination on his friend's face. "She almost killed you less then twenty-four hours ago and you want to go see if she's okay? Has she got you brainwashed or something?"

"No! I'm doing my job as squad leader!" He didn't know if that was actually true, but he was hoping that it was considering the alternative of liking Laura scared him more then anything. "Now get out of my way before I move you" Julian's eyes began to glow green as he looked at Brian.

Brian glared at him at first not seeming to be backing down, but then thought better against it. There was no point in fighting over what Julian's true motives were and he wouldn't make it down to the basement without Professor Logan or Headmaster Frost knowing in the first place. "Fine," He stepped aside and so did everyone else clearing a path for Julian to walk out the door.

After about an hour of sneaking around the mansion, making sure no one saw him he made it to the sub levels. He'd never been further down then the Danger room so as the elevator continued to count floors, Julian's anxiety spiked ever so slightly. His rational side was starting to kick in, and he was starting to rethink his current path, but before he could think any more the doors opened.

"Relax, it's just Laura" He told himself out loud has he stepped out of the elevator. The girl who just almost killed you not even twenty-four hours ago. Julian tried to push that thought aside as he headed down the corridor toward the holding cells. It was oddly quiet as he made his decent, and Julian found it slightly unsettling. Drawing closer to Laura's cell he at first thought it only had food and water inside, but upon becoming more observing he saw a figure crouched in the corner. "Laura? It's me, Julian,"

She had heard him coming before he stepped off the elevator and as soon as she caught his scent, her claws extended wanting to slice him open. Her body and part of her mind wanted to attack him and enjoy in the satisfaction of the kill, but she fought against it. Laura did the only thing she could think of in that second. She stabbed herself in the abdomen in an attempt to cause her to focus on the pain and not on Julian. "Get. Out. " She managed to get out continuing to stop herself from lunching at the bars.

"I know I'm not suppose to be down here, but I wanted to see if you're okay," He said moving closer to the cage. Moving with caution, he moved closer to the cage, placing his hands on the bars. Laura didn't move or say a word. "Laura?" Julian looked closer into her prison, watching her. Nothing but silence. Becoming annoyed and frustrated he said, "Can you at least look at me? I mean you were the one to stab me for no reason!" His normal Julian attitude was showing through. With that outburst, Julian had to jump back quickly as Laura lunged at the bars, aiming for Julian. Her eyes were red, full of rage and her teeth were barred like a wild animal. Claws out, Julian could see blood dripping from a set of them along with a crimson stain on her shirt.

Stepping away from the bars, Laura watched Julian like a predator. Kill him. Stab your claws right into him. Tare him open and watch the life drain from his eyes. She kept her eyes on him pacing back and fourth within the cell. There was only a tiny piece of her that was holding on to control and that was slowly slipping away.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked more to himself then to her. He had never seen this side of the clone before. She was normally so quiet, zombie like. Julian was scared of her before when she didn't show any sign of emotion or caring, but he would take that over what he was seeing now.

"Hellion! What are you doing down here?" Emma asked hurrying down the corridor with Professor Xavier in tow. "This is a restricted area, especially to you!" As she got closer, she saw the look on Julian's face who hadn't taken his eyes off of the girl in the cage and brought her gaze to Laura. Seeing the state she was in Emma almost gasped at shock, but instead looked at Xavier. "Charles, you now see what I was talking about. We need to stop her before she threatens anyone else," Emma wasn't treating Laura like a victim but a threat that needed to be taken care of.

Charles wheeled around to the front of the cage to get a better look at Laura. He let out a sigh when he saw her pacing not taking her eyes off of Julian. Letting out a sigh he replied, "I agree with you on helping her Emma, but you must remember she is a student here and will be treated as such," With that, he put his fingers to his temple and focused on Laura. Getting into her mind was difficult, but not impossible. Last time he had gotten in, he had left a short cut for himself, just in case he had to do it again. After a few moments, Laura swayed a little, fighting the intrusion till finally she fell backward, unconscious, and her claws retracted.

"What the hell is wrong with her!" Julian yelled at both of his instructors pointing at the cage and Laura entering a panic state at what he had just saw. "It's like she's insane or something!"

"Mr. Keller, you need to relax. I will explain momentarily, but at the present you need to go with Ms. Frost while I take care of Ms. Kinney. " Xavier said to him very calmly. With that Emma lead Julian back to the elevators and up to the main floors while Xavier put his attention on Laura.