I do not own claim to any of the X-Men or their universe (just my girl Mimik) and I make no money from this. Enjoy!
He teleports us right outside my bedroom door, "If you need anything Fraulien, just knock on my door, I'm right across the hall."
I nod, he ports away, and then I turn the door handle, finding it locked. Logan never handed me the key…
I almost use my "key" on the door, but I think I'd rather have the door left intact.
So, instead I go to the door to the door to my left and rap on it loud enough to ensure anyone sleeping would be woken up.
Someone from within growls viciously and throws something metallic against the door hard; probably a can, judging by the clang sound. There's silence for a moment and then I begin to hear muffled cursing and hurried movements.
After a minute or two the door flies open and Logan greets me, flustered.
His hair gives away the fact that he just woke up, he's in a red flannel shirt and jeans with tan work boots; all of which look hastily thrown on.
I glance in the room to see a mess. Clothes, beer cans and bottles, and other random things clutter the floor. Logan follows my look and frowns at the room before stepping out and quickly closing the door.
"Have a nice nap?"
He grunts and runs his fingers through his hair, trying to fix it, "Sorry kid, forgot to set the alarm."
I shrug, "No big deal, you needed sleep anyways."
We both glance at the end of the hall where a girl steps out of a room and quickly runs around the corner, fixing her backpack.
"So is Xavier free to let me look at my file now?"
"Yeah his last class should have finished up a little bit ago."
He starts down the hall, "You ready for this?"
"I dunno… I have no idea what I'm gunna do with any of the information, but I wanna read it none the less."
He glances over his shoulder at me, looking sad, "Will you go and try to find your parents if they're alive?"
Would I?
"Never thought about it, I dunno… Probably not. I have no idea how to be someone's kid and if I do have parents there's no way they would accept me now, after all I've done."
He stiffens a little, but stays silent.
"I mean, what would I say to them? Hey mom and dad! I'm your kid who's been a captive of the government for the past 14 years; wanna know how many people I've killed? Or would you rather see me kill something with my shiny new claws?"
I roll my eyes and cross my arms, "Of course I don't think I have parents anymore, Wraith told me I killed them."
I smile a little as the image of his corpse flashes through my head, I killed him too.
We're already walking down the hallways past classrooms and Logan is still quiet.
"So did you read your file?"
He grunts in confirmation.
"Did you get any info from it to link you to your family? If you don't mind me asking, that is."
He stops in front of a dark, cherry wood door with a gold plate on it reading 'Charles Xavier Headmaster.'
"I did, but I don't know what I should do with it yet…"
He knocks and a pleasant voice from inside invites us in, so he opens the door.
I walk in after Logan and look around to see a large, nicely decorated office with a desk, full bookshelves, an overstuffed couch, and some other random decorations.
Xavier is sitting behind his desk which has two padded chairs sitting opposite him.
An image of Wraith in the interrogation room at his desk settles at the forefront of my memories and I shake my head to try and clear it away.
Xavier smiles and waves his hand to the seats, "Please, have a seat."
I hesitate and then walk across the room and sit in one of the chairs. Logan follows me, sitting in the other.
"Ok, so let's get this over with."
Xavier smiles sadly, "Yes, indeed."
He leans over, opening a desk drawer and removes two thick files with the edges slightly toasted. He places them on the desk in front of me and I just sit there for a moment, staring at them.
I suddenly feel a little ill; I'm going to find out answers to everything. Who I am, where I'm from, what's been done to me…
Trembling slightly I reach out and pull the top file closer to me. The top corner is labeled 'Project Pandora.'
I flip it over so I can start at the back; I want to work up to my origins…
Everything around me disappears as I open it up, my eyes focused on this alone.
I turn over the first page and begin to read an account of one of my fits of rage by Dr. Cornelius. I remember that one; I killed one of Wraith's favorite goons.
Quickly reading through it I notice that he mentions me adapting to something and something about enhancements.
I flip through more pages reading about tests checking on the progression of the mentioned enhancements, my general physical and psychological status, and experiments they subjected me to.
A lot of this I don't recall, but I keep flipping. Occasionally there's a picture or two, some of me just going about my day, others while I was unconscious on the "cutting board," and some of injuries that I got from something or other.
When I get closer to the front of the file I finally find the information pertaining to what the enhancements were…
.
I stare at the picture paper-clipped to the stapled bunch of papers in my hand.
Staring back at me was a small little girl, frowning, looking like she just finished crying with red eyes and wet streaks down her face.
She was Caucasian with shoulder-length black hair and a short little fuzzy black tail.
I move the picture so I can read the information behind it. This little girl was me...
There was no green skin or adamantium yet; just my healing and advanced senses with a cat-like appearance.
According to Cornelius, he had designed this new genetic enhancement that would unlock dormant x-genes in subjects using another mutant's genes in combination with some chemical formula he developed along with strong doses of radiation. 98% of the subjects died, but the one mutant that did survive became so horribly deformed and mutated they disposed of it.
During his experimentation Cornelius found something in my genetic code which made me a promising subject for his enhancements. And so, over the course of the year after I was brought there he experimented on me, applying his enhancements with stunning results.
My skin became dark green; my tail lost all its fur becoming pointed at the end, my hair and eyes changed as well. I became the freak I am now…
Cornelius claimed that I gained a remarkable resemblance to the mutant whose DNA they used, he was named Azazel or something like that.
The enhancements also helped improve my agility, strength, my senses, and they also awoke another dormant mutant ability; my shape shifting and mimicry.
At first they didn't realize I could copy other mutants' abilities until one day when I tried escaping after another memory therapy.
That's when they realized my full potential and Project Pandora was born. After that the other experiments Cornelius performed were to test my limitations and keep an eye on the enhancements ensuring the radiation I that was exposed didn't cause any other adverse effects.
.
I pause before turning the final section of pages, flipping back to look at the little girl in the picture, noticing her dirty hair and skin and the ragged white dress she was wearing.
She had little circular bruises on her bare legs and looked like she had been hit in the face recently.
Who does that shit to a little girl?
I know that little girl is supposed to me but I just can't make any connection to her, like she's just some stranger. They really did turn me into a monster…
I wince as the head ache I felt developing as I read through the file, gets worse.
I take a deep breath and flip over the last few pages. The first thing that draws my eye is my name, my full name.
Kimberley Elizabeth Howlett…
I actually have a last name, a family, a history…
I cringe as the headache pulses painfully blurring my vision for a moment.
I shake my head and I think someone put a hand on my shoulder, but I'm too focused to actually see or hear them.
Once my vision returns I stare at the rest of the page that was like a brief analysis of me right after I was captured.
Name: Kimberley Elizabeth Howlett
Four (4) years old on date of procurement.
Notes: Mutation seems to be enhanced senses, a regenerative factor, four (4) bone 'blades' emerging just above each knuckle on each hand, as well as a physical similarity to a feline with a prehensile tail and the vertical pupils. Upon analysis of the mutant parents she seems to have received a combination of mutations from both.
*Very good candidate for genetic enhancement experimentation, possible candidate for skeletal enhancement as well
XxX
Father: James Howlett
AKA: Logan Howlett, Wolverine
Age unknown, advanced regenerative factor makes it impossible to determine age.
Notes: Mutation is advanced senses, regenerative factor, and three (3) bone 'blades' emerging from in between the knuckles on each hand. Has a background in the military, most recent being part of a black ops group of mutants under the name Logan Howlett; serving with Code Name Sabertooth.
*Candidate for skeletal enhancement process
XxX
Mother: Katherine Marie Creed Howlett
AKA: Wild Kat
Age unknown, advanced regenerative factor makes it impossible to determine age
Notes: Mutation is a feline physical resemblance with a prehensile tail, pointed teeth and ears, retractable claws on fingertips, yellow 'cat's eyes,' as well as enhanced senses
DECEASED
.
None of this seems familiar at all…
But my…
They said my father had three blades and called himself Logan and… Wolverine?
I look from the file and focus through the building pain to view the office around me again; I look up at the man gripping my shoulder, worried, saying something that I just can't hear.
Logan is my father?
As I come to that realization my head begins to feel like it's being ripped in half.
I think I screamed, but I didn't hear it. I lean forward in the chair, gripping my head, trying to hold it together. The pain just keeps building like my skull is gunna burst.
Someone touches my back and thrash to try and get them off me because every little touch is shooting fire up my spine to make the pain even worse if that was even fucking possible.
Suddenly everything goes white, the feeling of pain, my vision, all my senses are white.
It's impossible but I taste, smell, hear, feel white.
That pain feels so far away now…
The whiteness slowly fades and gives way to black and then nothingness.