Magic and Might
Chapter 10: X-23
Phase Zero: Origins
Harry and Wolverine had spent the last two weeks searching the city for any signs of X-23. The only clue they found was a bar that had its occupants ripped to shreds. However even Wolverine couldn't seem to track her scent. She was somehow able to mask and hide it from him.
"Any word from your network?" Wolverine asks as they exit the local park.
"Not yet. I have eyes looking everywhere for her, but she is skilled at hiding and avoiding any eyes from finding her." Harry said.
"You think she's onto us?" Wolverine asks.
"It's best to assume she is. She isn't staying anywhere public, that's for sure. Let's try some of the abandoned subway tunnels."
"Want to split up, and cover more ground?" Wolverine stated.
"Just don't engage her unless engaged upon. Remember we're here to help her." Harry said as he turns and walks towards the edge of the city where he knew he would find an abandoned shaft under a bridge.
It didn't take Harry long to arrive. He slowly walks in aware that if she were inside, she would not take kindly to any intrusion.
Harry walks in slowly and could tell the place hadn't been checked in on for months. He finally reaches the end where he could see a large room shaped like a bunker was at the end.
Harry would have dismissed this room had it not been for the signs that someone was living here. A backpack was on the ground and a small table was set up with some very impressive tech and gadgets. Harry walks forward and looks at the gadgets. They were impressive. Small bombs capable of blowing off doors, and other devices that seemed to have been customized.
It was clear that someone was staying here and they had black ops training and gear. Better gear than any current black ops from any country. This stuff could rival S.H.I.E.L.D. technology. Even H.A.M.M.E.R. black ops who would use this type of equipment wouldn't have been in this place.
Harry paused when he felt something behind him.
"Not many people are capable of sneaking up on me." Harry said as he turns around. A young figure who was very small, about five feet tall, stood there. Harry noticed two metal claws were slowly coming out of the person's knuckles.
"I was hoping we could talk." Harry stated.
The young figure leaps forward and brings down one claw in an attempt to remove Harry's head from his body.
Harry leaps to the side avoiding the blow. The attacker wasn't done and she proved to be fast. Faster than any human. Harry jumps to the side but his attacker was light on her feet and swung her claw at Harry, narrowly slashing his chest.
Harry brings out his bō staff and enlarged its size to the point it was as tall as he was. However, the attacker's metal claws had cut his bō staff in half. Harry however used that moment to kick the person in the gut. The girl grunted as she slid backwards and held her gut.
Harry moves forward and avoid the claw to his head. Harry ducks the next blow with his arm this time and kicks X-23 again causing her to stumble backwards.
She was a skilled fighter. However, her lack of experience was showing. Harry would guard her first blows before kicking her backwards.
It got to the point after the twentieth kick in the gut were she finally fell to her knee and was panting. She removes her mask and glares at Harry. It was hard to tell what she was feeling. At first glance Harry thought she was angry and maybe even hated him for besting her. However, as he looks closer, he realized she was frustrated with herself.
"Are you ready to talk, or do you want to have another go?" Harry said.
"Why are you here?" She snaps.
Harry didn't blame her for not having people skills. She most likely didn't have any interactions with other people before.
"I am here for you X-23." Harry answers truthfully.
"Don't call me that!" X-23 shouted. "I'm not a number!"
"Then what do I call you?" Harry asks politely.
She said nothing but glares at him.
"I'm not here to capture you, I'm here to talk." Harry said. He walks over to the wall and sits down. She eyed him the entire time. It was clear she didn't know if she could trust him.
"Let's start with the simple question, do you know where you are?" Harry asks.
"Outside of New York City." She said.
"I know you ran away from the Facility. What do you intend to do?" Harry asks her.
She glares at him. Her green eyes pierce through Harry's own. Finally, she retracts her blades and she looks at him.
"I don't know. I've been outside before. They tried to teach me to blend in, but I saw people having freedom. I guess I want to be free." She said.
"You have seen others in freedom for so long that you know you were being held captive. I can understand that, you're like a bird who desires to spread her wings. And you can't do that in a cage." Harry said calmly.
"How would you know? You don't know anything about me." She proclaimed.
"You're right. I don't." Harry said in a strong voice. "I can only imagine what your life has been like. I do know that every night you hug yourself wishing for your pain to go away. That someone would come take you away so that you could be happy. Have a family where you can laugh and smile. I know you wish you had the strength to undo what has been done to you. That you desire to find happiness with someone. But you have a hard time trusting others because you have no connections with anyone." Harry said.
She only glares at him.
"How do you know these things?" She finally asks.
"It was the same thing I went through when I had to go through my pain." Harry answers truthfully. "I do not know your pain. I can however, relate to it. I thought my life was messed up, but when I heard your story I realized that you had gone through too much. And you never had someone by your side. I do know this; you are being hunted. Whoever those behind the Facility really are, and I have my suspicions about who they really are, they will attempt to find you. I can hide you from them." Harry said calmly.
"You can't, no one can hide me from them. They will continue to hunt me forever." She claimed.
"You'd be surprise on how well I can hide people. I know many governments are searching me but they can't find me. If things happen, it's because I normally let them happen. No one will find you unless I want them too."
She paused and sniffs the air a couple of times.
"Someone is coming." She said as she unsheathes her claws.
Harry gets up and turns to the only entrance and could make out the shadow of someone approaching.
X-23 moves forward to strike the unknown person but three metal claws appeared and block her blow.
"Stop." Harry said as X-23 leaps back in a defensive stance.
Harry walks forward and could see someone walking forward in a black outfit.
"Wolverine." Harry said as Logan walks into the dim light.
"I got worried when you didn't come back. So I tracked you here. I see you found her." He said.
"She greeted me the same way you first did." Harry said with a small smile.
"Yeah, I remember that day. I'm surprise you found her." Wolverine said as he looks at her.
"What can I say? I have the devil's luck." Harry replies.
"Ain't that the truth. You know Gambit says his luck is better." Logan said.
"Anyway, this is Logan, better known as Wolverine. He is in many ways you father." Harry said.
"I know who is he." She said in a stern voice.
"Look kid, I had no knowledge of your existence until two weeks ago," Logan answered.
"It's true. The moment we found out about you, we started searching for you. Like I told you before, we mean you no harm. Everything I told you was true. We can help you, but only if you let us." Harry said.
She finally stands up straight and retracts her claws back.
"I'll be sending you to Xavier's school. For the time being, you should be safe there." Harry said the moment he was sure things had cooled down.
"What of Fury and SHIELD?" Logan asks.
"Its best we say we let her go. If SHIELD gets their hands on her, I have a general idea of what the World Security Council will do to her. Fury may not be the most honest man. But even he doesn't have a cruel heart. He would never use a child for war." Harry answers calmly.
"Do you have any other clothes?" Logan asks her after looking at her for a few seconds.
"These are the only clothes the Facility ever gave me." She answers.
"Right, Logan will take you shopping for clothes." Harry said quickly.
"The hell I will bub!" Logan retorted strongly.
Harry only smiles knowing full well both of them did not want to take a girl shopping.
"Let's get out of here." Harry said as X-23 gets up and grabs a bag putting in all her equipment and gear inside.
They walk outside with all their senses on high alert. Wolverine having move experience was sniffing the area to make sure they were truly alone. His ears listening to the winds for the slightest sound of a disturbance.
"It seems we're alone." Wolverine said finally.
"Take care of yourself." Harry said turning to X-23.
"Laura." She said.
Harry blinks as he looks at her.
"The name Doctor Kinney gave me, it's Laura." She said as she finally introduces herself properly.
"Laura, I'll remember that." Harry said with a smile.
Laura and Logan said their goodbyes and Harry went to meet Nick Fury.
New York City SHIELD Center – The Hotel
Harry walks into Fury's temporary office and could see Nick Fury talking to Agent Hill.
"Did you find her?" Fury asks looking up at Harry.
"I did." Harry said calmly.
"Where is she?" Fury seemed eager to meet the girl.
"She's on the road with Logan."
"What?!" Fury half shouted but he looks angrier than normal. "She is too dangerous to be left out there. She should be evaluated and put on the index."
"She's been through enough. She needs to be a kid for once. If you take her in, you're no better than the Facility that kept her in captivity." Harry shot back.
Fury paused and gritted his teeth.
"Did she give you anything on the Facility at least?" Fury asks.
"She did. She had a lot of intel on them. Though we may need to move fast on it. Some of the intel matches those from Obadiah Stane's phone. This means he had been funding them, or at the very least was associated with them." Harry said as he puts an USB down on Fury's desk.
"This is a welcome break. It could give us insight on what we're dealing with."
"I recommend mobilizing teams fast. I get the feeling these guys are not amateurs as we think. They could have left the area or are in the process of cleaning out."
Fury nodded his head. He understood what Harry was saying. Action needed to be done quickly.
"Finish analyzing the rest of the information. We need to know where else these people have been operating at."
"I'm on it." Harry said as he turns to leave the office.
The moment Harry left the building he was already on the phone.
"Miranda, it's me, it's time to open up our project." Harry said calmly and then hangs up his phone.
Harry slowly walks into his apartment only to see a strange woman standing by the window looking outside. She was wearing strange armor with a shield and sword.
Harry grabs his bō staff and enlarges it to its full length.
"Who are you?" Harry demands.
"I have come a long way to meet you Seidmadr." She said turning around to face him. Harry looked into her blue eyes and could see she wasn't someone to trifle with. His grip on his bō staff became tighter when he realized he could be in for a tough fight.
Beta'd by Pegueror
Author Notes: I am so sorry to all my faithful readers for the long wait. But my originally beta had abandon the story. I hope everyone enjoys. I'm still setting things up.