After things settled down, Creed decided to get on the move. He needed to find some wheels because Creed felt the exact location of every pebble beneath his calloused feet -- hours upon hours of walking wore down the boots. Not that he didn't mind this little nature hike, but the radio would be good right now.

The saving grace he called silence started to annoy him. The conversation he heard last night made him want to know about the boy and Jubilee. How can he masterful manipulate them mentally without that information. Hours had passed by and no one uttered a word.

Out of the corner of his amber eyes he noticed the small blonde feral keeping a couple feet back of him. Though this wasn't anything out of the ordinary but he knew better.

The boy had a little bounce in his step – a more lightness in it than before. Also, he noticed the boy's brown eyes didn't dart as much as before and the shoulders' weren't as tense as before. So the boy had a newfound confidence, that's the kind of attitude Creed liked in his rivals. The more confidence they had, the more enjoyable it was to tear it down.

Glancing once again, he saw the specter follow with actions that went against her namesake. What got her so down? She talked to the boy all last night and he knew she could talk all day too, but he wondered what she thought in that mind of hers. Maybe it's more plans to undermine him, or maybe...

The gurgle of running water interrupted his thoughts. He sniffed the air as his nose confirmed it. He turned around to see if the boy or Jubilee noticed – they didn't – good.

Walking casually, he gave quick look back at the boy. If his theorized correctly, the boy wouldn't know much about water except for drinking purposes. Creeds eyes lit up, he'd silently teach the boy and torture him at the same time. Either way it looked like today would turn out to be a good day.

He heard the boy sniff the air as he made a note of how strong the boys' senses where then he saw the boy run past him.

"Hey Igster, where ya goin'?" Jubilee's voice broke through the hours of silence as he suddenly saw her float by him. He noticed the change in her face -- one full of worry. He made note of that too as he rushed after them.

The first thing he noticed was the air became tinged with excitement and life unlike the monotone boredom he'd been with for hours; now, with the crisp natural air, came forth one full of excitement and unpredictability. He looked at the boy who stood at the edge of the shore.

"So this is a river -- me mommy told me stories about them," the boy dipped his index finger in the slow paced water as Creed walked towards the boy.

He looked to the left and right of him. They weren't exactly at the calm of the river, but they weren't in the hustle of it either -- a perfect spot. He looked into the river and saw it was around six feet deep; at least that's what he estimated. The length to one side to the other wasn't that far either, around twenty-five feet. For him, it'd take him a good five minutes to get across -- no problem.

He wasn't interested in what he knew. His gaze came upon the boy as a grin came across his face. He started to walk in the water as the boy turned to pay attention to him.

"Uncle 'Tooth, where are you going?" the first words he heard from the boy all day. The boy's words where weren't ones of fear or depression that he heard in the last couple of days, but of curiosity -- he liked that.

Creed didn't answer the boy as he took another step in as the water suddenly became up to his neck. So his calculations were correct. He started to swim across, he felt the current become faster when he got to the middle. So it'd take him a little longer to get to his destination -- six minutes at the least.

When he got out, he felt the leather outfit he was wearing starting to shrivel.

"Ferget that leather shrinks in water -- just like somethin' else," Jubilee pointed out as he growled and started to take off his leather clothing, leaving him only boxers.

"Yep, I was right," Jubilee pointed out at his boxers again as he sneered. He looked at the direction where the boy stood waiting.

"Ya gonna stand there like an idiot or come 'ere," so his predictions were correct -- the boy didn't know how to swim. The excitement he sensed earlier vanished, now his senses became flooded with fear.

He suddenly saw the specter disappear next to him and appear next to Iggy. He sneered, Jubilee wouldn't mess up his plan this time, "What yer goin' ta let Jubilee help ya out there --," he started to taunt but stopped himself when he saw the boy just jump into the water with no regard.

Creed smiled, the boy had a lot to prove. He watched the boy flail his arms in the water. If the boy drowned now he'd have no rival or a way to keep Jubilee from taking over his mind, "Ya need ta keep yer head above water," he yelled as he walked towards the direction where Iggy started to float down to.

The boy didn't hear him, "Put yer damn head above water boy," he yelled again as the water started to quicken, the boy calmed down and put his head above water and started to dog paddle -- really slowly.

Creed sighed as he decided not to wait standing up; he sat down on the shore watching the boy paddle his way with encouraging words from the floating specter.

A half hour later of swimming, yelling and yawning the boy finally reached the other side of the river. The boy panted heavily, but for the first time in a long while, he saw the boy smile.

"We're goin'," Creed ordered as he got up and started to walk towards the woods, he heard the boy shake the water off and trail right behind him.

The boy didn't waver at all, he stood the same distance from Creed the whole time they walked along the riverbed. The boy had some sense of stamina on him. Using this to his knowledge he spent the rest of the time walking thinking about ways to strengthen that latent stamina. He barely noticed when the trees became a little darker and stars started popping out of the dark sky.

Creed just stopped without looking back, "We're settin' camp here," and with that, he walked away into the woods to get some food and supplies.

He knew he wasn't followed as he felt air that could freeze a normal man to death, but it revitalized Creed. Looking around at the darkness and sounds of the night, he reflected on the city life style he'd been used to. Watching enemy movement, being trapped in a world full of idiotic (but easily controlled) humans and destroying lives with a single swipe made him forget what it was like to live in the wilderness, but now, nostalgia came back in force...

He shouldn't get used to it because...well...it wasn't like he had a choice on what road to travel. Assassins' these days found him at the most obscure stores and restaurants; however, even if they were stupid enough to think to hunt for him in the wilderness, they'd soon find out that they didn't have a chance in the territory he'd grown used to.

As for right now, he didn't look all that menacing with only boxer shorts on. He had to carry his too small clothing with him, the money being drenched after his little swim. He remembered how the boy kept up though, not too much of his surprise. He smelled adrenaline rush of almost drowning still on the boy; Creed smirked, the boy would get used to that.

He senses went buzzing when he stumbled upon a nest – a squirrels nest. Well they'd have squirrel tonight...

The deed was done and he headed back towards where he left the boy and the specter to see auburn lights fill his view. He didn't sense any danger which only meant one thing. He went past the clearing to see a nice size fire burning. He just lay the carcasses of the freshly killed animals down and using nearby stick, made a little shis-ka-squirrel. He looked across to see the boy already had some food already – fish impaled with stick. The boy learned fast.

Now all three were around the fire that the boy made and they ate their own separate meals they caught for themselves. Creed just looked over to the stone-faced boy eating his fish. Creed knew something sparked in the boy and he was the cause of it.

Molding things to his whim, that's what Creed liked to do. Now that the boy gained some confidence, he'd have to teach him some stuff -- like how to fight, how to kill, how to be...He looked around as the boy started to yawn as he lay back on the grassy area of the shore.

The boy was tired already? Creed shrugged as Jubilee stood there watching the boy. In a couple days, she changed from this spark that retorted at him to something else. He couldn't put his finger on it, but at least she wasn't bothering him.

He sneered as he laid back and looked at the stars. So the boy got Jubilee's attention. That didn't matter to him; he wanted to get rid of her after all. Out of the deal though he'd get years of torturing the boy -- so no big loss -- right? He drifted off into sleep as he the stars above him became blurry.

He didn't sleep long as he heard the rumblings of the grass. He kept his eyes closed, as he smelled the boy stir.

"Auntie Lee what are you doing?" he heard the boy whisper.

"It still freaks me out," he heard her voice close to his ear. He was glad that she didn't find out yet, "when he sleeps like that ya never suspect anythin' -- it's almost nice."

"Auntie Lee, don't you hate him?" the boy bluntly put it as Creed felt a tinge of pain the same place when he thought about the boy, "he hurt you," the boy continued without malice in his voice, but rather flatly.

Silence filled the air, as he knew her response...

"Nah," she stated playfully as her voice became distant. She didn't hate him? She should because, like Iggy said, he hurt her and the runt.

"I did when before this, but not as much anymore," she gave out the clear answer. What exactly changed her mind? Questions raced through his mind as he attempted to be quiet and not voice them out.

"So how 'bout you Igstser, ya hate ol' Uncle 'Tooth?" she asked the boy. He initially smelled anger coming from the boy, but that faded rather quickly.

"Nah Auntie Lee," the boy tried to do the best impersonation of the apparition and he heard her laugh.

"Hating people is a waste of time -- that's what mommy used to tell me," the boy followed through. So this was the boys' cop out -- the whole 'hatred is a waste of time' thing. He met many people like that, but he knew deep down -- those emotions boiled and simmered. When let out, they became good assassins. He heard the boy yawn and lay back down on the grass as she continued.

"Yer mommy was a smart woman," she replied. Great, so Jubilee had the same answer too, "but that ain't the reason I don't hate Creed," or not.

Creed now became enthralled in the conversation. So what if he felt like he needed sleep, he fought it with all his might to listen to her reason.

"Ya see, I've seen a lot of what Creed used ta do before he met ya an' me," she began as though she tried teaching the boy something, "he done some pretty bad stuff ta lots of innocent people."

That sentence got to him at the right spot. He spent his life being an assassin and he had no regrets about it.

"But there was one thing that changed my mind..." Which was? "It ain't good fer yer ears Igster," she teased the boy and him. He stifled a growl, as he wanted to know the answer.

"Seriously, Igster, its when he came in ta save ya -- ain't seen a guy like 'im do that fer anyone -- and I've been in his mind," she reminded her audience. That day became a blank for him; he didn't even receiving a glow after killing that bastard of a father.

The funny part was that he didn't smell any change in the air. Did this mean Iggy agreed with her?

"He ain't gonna change, ya know that Igster," she warned the boy. She was correct on that count. He wouldn't change for anyone or anything -- he liked the way he was, "but he's the reason yer still alive and here -- that's why I can't hate 'im."

So he hit a good spot with the girl -- good. Did he hear the boy sleep? He couldn't have heard when the boy started to sleep because he was too consumed what Jubilee had to say. So who was her audience then?

"Creed I know yer awake, don't try ta pull this stunt again like last night 'cause I'm like Santa -- know when yer awake and when yer asleep," so she fooled him. He growled as he forced himself to not look at her.

"But what I said is true, thanks fer savin' the boy and givin' him somethin' I wasn't able ta do -- I never told ya thanks fer all that -- so thanks," she didn't say angrily, but rather with he knew was the honest truth.

Creed let the night overtake him. He went to sleep more confused than before.

Creed didn't sleep well that night. He didn't have a dream with visual aides, but rather words that echoed in his head – her words. Did she really know a lot about him? Well she'd have to since she controlled him on more than one occasion; yet why wasn't she mad at him?

He killed her. He ended her life in front of the person she loved – in theory. Then he remembered that she had a reason to die. What was it? He wanted to know now. This would unlock the mystery about her liking him.

What was he thinking? She didn't have to 'like' him, she just didn't hate him – there's a difference.

He awoke to the sounds of sizzling ash. The smell in the air made his nose twinge – the boy started tradition without him. He growled as he got up slowly. Scratching the various places on his body that itched. He blindly joined in the tradition, as he had to plot out what to do next.

If they went along the river, they'd find a town eventually. He remembered he only wore little left to the imagination and since winter was around the bend, he wouldn't want to be caught in a blizzard with his boxers.

Did they need supplies? Of course the boy would carry everything and he did have more around three thousand dollars to spend – wait – did he just think 'they'? When did he think as a group?

After he did his business, he knew that these were extreme circumstances, meaning that he'd have to go out of his shell for even a little bit – and he didn't like it. Flustering his eyes for a bit, he saw Iggy dust off that 'Hooters' hat. He'd have to trust the boy to go into town and buy stuff for him. That shouldn't be a problem because the boy's safety relied on him and his adoration of the specter.

"C'mon," Creed picked up his too small leather clothes, "we're goin' down upstream," that's all that he gave as the small boy nodded. He liked that about the boy, he'd always been obedient.

"Why Creed?" Jubilee, on the other hand, is another story all together.

"We need ta get somethin' fer me ta wear – or do ya like seein' me in my boxers," he retorted as the specter looked away. He decided not to pursue it – for now, "I don't like ta walk 'round like this, plus it's a good time ta steal some cars and wreck some havoc and do ya see any cars ta steal 'round here?" he put it bluntly, even though it wasn't his aim. Going by foot would be faster instead of trying to steal another car that would alert assassins in this area about his presence.

"K' Creed," how quickly did she agree with him? The way things were going everything would be smooth sailing from here on out. So they started to walk downstream, single file. He led the charge because they trusted him to do so – the fools.

The rapid pace kept going for a couple hours, with no sound from any of the two. No complaints meant that this trip would go by quicker and he'd be on his own. He smiled at the thought as a sudden change in the air made him weary.

Gunpowder, trucks and humans could mean only one thing – danger. He turned back to them quickly to shush them. Jubilee precariously looked at him and the boy stood doing the opposite.

He ushered them over to the deeper parts of the woods as they all went in. He became weary of his steps as he relied on his senses to get him through the unknown. That's when he heard something loud and something familiar coming. He looked at the boy with a glare, "stay here, and don't get in my way," he quietly ordered, as he didn't look back.

He stepped out of the safety of the foliage to get a better whiff of what was coming. He smelled the air, two different scents other than the automobile – this must mean two different people. This trip couldn't get any better. He'd steal the car and things would be okay.

He sniffed the air again as this time he heard it coming. The occupants in the hummer (he determined the type this time) smelled too clean cut. A hummer and clean-cut people could only mean one thing.

He jumped back into the foliage and hid close to the boy who stood there shaking, "stop that or else," he unsheathed his claws as the boy automatically stopped. He loved the power he had.

The sound of the car became louder as his predictions were correct. Two men in army like uniforms passed by with heavy machine guns.

"Nothing's here sir," One of them dispatched into the radio.

"Data found two beings around here, they couldn't have gone far," the voice made almost made Creed berserk with rage. He knew that voice, the Agent Jackson has something to do with this. He looked as the hummer made a three point turn – showing a familiar insignia.

Weapon X...

Oh how he loved to rip those two measly army officers to shreds right now. He growled as he started to rush out of the brush, but he saw her appear in front of him.

"Get out of my way," he growled lowly to her. He had the element of surprise on his side, so he'd get the information he wanted without having to kill them. She didn't say anything witty at him and just stood there, staring at him.

"Igster," she called out to the hiding boy.

"Yes, Auntie Lee," the boy called out with all the strength he could muster, but it came out rather timid.

"Uncle 'Tooth and I will be back, ya just stay right there – ya got that," she warned the boy. What was she thinking? The boy just nodded as he kept hidden in there, prepared for anything. The smile given to the boy now turned into a somber one.

"Creed, let's go," she ordered. He quizzically looked at her, but decided that he should just go with it as he followed behind her. They started to trail the hummer within the foliage. For him it was easy to hide his tracks and be silent. He looked over to her and saw her floating right next to him determination in her eyes.

She had her own stake in it as well, enough to leave her young ward for it. When he left Weapon X all those years ago – he never looked back. Why keep tabs on some place he stole all the good information about. Yet he heard these stories of Sinister, Agent Jackson and the Director, but he didn't care – he just had places to go and people to kill, and since he saw Sinister a couple of weeks ago -- those stories were probably outdated.

They stopped where two parts of a river met. From the foliage they saw the hummer stop what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Suddenly, a gap came from the grassy floor, large enough to fit the hummer as it went through. Before either of them could do anything, the gap closed in an instant.

So they became more intelligent than before. From what he remembered the compound was visible from any range and was known by even the most generic henchmen. Now they tried to hide their whereabouts.

"Stay here," Jubilee ordered the contemplative form as she left him. He didn't even get to say a witty reply when she phased through the ground where the compound was. This change of attitude confused him. On one hand, it's great that she didn't bother him and became determined to help him, but, on the other hand, he had to wonder what drove her for them to work together.

Even though the voice of the director made him berserk, he had a choice to deal with it or not. He became satisfied with what information he attained all those years ago. He used it against Logan and he made him suffer for a while – a smile came over his face when he remembered that moment.

The very thought of finding even more info to torture his rival enticed him to want to go in. He saw the girl float up from the grassy area and beckoned him to go to her. Without a second though, he did as he was asked and stood right next to her.

"They're doing a sweep of the entire area, and are sending another truck up now – I checked and their motions sensors are good, but the people using the equipment are lousy. Someone other than us triggered a huge mutant response..." she trailed of lost in thought, but she shook her head to get back to reality, "...and it seems like they got him."

'Him' the girl knew who this 'him' was.

"So who's this guy," he asked her. Her recon work rivaled most other mutants he worked with, so she had to know who this guy was and by the looks of it – she knew the guy well.

Well look wot we have here, a telepathic voice sneered in his head. He turned and growled to see who it was.

One man stood there. Brown hair, short enough to be rebellious but long enough to cover his face, didn't cover his angry face. He wore all black head to toe as rage glinted in his eyes. His lips looked unnatural, liked they were pasted on by a two year old. Creed knew he recognized this boy from somewhere but where.

Didn't have to look far for you know, getting revenge for the gel would be easier than I thought, the telepathic voice rang out again as flames started tow whirl around the guy in black.

Creed looked from the corner of his eyes, the girl had the same reaction all those weeks ago when she saw her 'Wolvie' go back to being a feral. Her eyes couldn't believe what she saw.

"Jono..." her words escaped her lips.