A/N: Sorry for the slow update, my teachers are sadistic. If anyone actually lives near this area I apologize profusely for my (probable) butchery of the geography. I have never been to New York, and I only bothered to look at google maps for five minutes to decide this is where he is. I'm currently debating whether to name this Rebirth or Second Coming. I think I like Rebirth better but the chance to mock the cheesy name of the X-Men comic arc is very tempting. Don't worry about me not updating because I actually have another 20,000ish words worth of story. I space out the updates so I don't run out. You're all gonna hate me for the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter, but I'm taking after my teachers and becoming sadistic. I enjoy your pain. *evil laugh*
Somewhere in Elmont, three weeks later...
I walked the streets of the city, barely noticing the people walking past me. I hadn't seen the X-Men since my flight from the mansion. It is likely they are hunting me. I do not want to have to kill them. I had been living off whatever I could find since then. It wasn't hard. I could easily steal food and clothes due to my training. I kept two changes of clothes along with my katana in a duffel bag I carried around. I was used to sleeping on the ground from years of missions. So why do I feel like this? I felt like my life was lacking purpose. I had wanted to not have to follow their orders for years at HYDRA and now that I do not... I have no purpose. No mission. Freedom wasn't all it's cracked up to be. At least I hadn't had to kill anyone. Even if I wanted to. I hate them all. Humans did this to me. And humans should pay for this. But the people who did this to me are dead. Fortunately for them. I wondered where I was going. I turned the corner and smelled Chinese food. I enjoy consuming Chinese food. An irrational response. But I walked into the alley behind the store and used one of my claws to cut through the lock anyway.
I listened for anybody behind the door. Not hearing anything, I entered. I was standing in a room full of refrigerators. I opened one and saw packages of rice and multiple flavors of chicken. Mouth watering, I began shoving packages into my duffel bag. In my zest I didn't notice the person enter the room behind me until he began yelling at me. "What the hell are you doing? Stealing from me? I'll show you what we do to thieves." He grabbed a knife from a counter near the door. I had to try hard not to laugh. He advanced on me with the knife and I just stood there. Attack me. Fighting makes the kill more enjoyable. He suddenly lunged at me and plunged the knife into my chest. He missed all my vital organs. Is he honestly trying to kill me? He seemed surprised when I didn't immediately keel over. And he seemed horrified when I pulled the knife out and he watched my flesh knit back together. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU? GET AWAY FROM ME!"I extended the claws in my hands and he tried to run. I ran forward and sliced through the Achilles tendon on his left leg. He screamed and looked in horror as his leg flopped uselessly. He fell to the ground. I moved forward slowly, silently. He began to beg. "Please, take my money, take the food, just don't hurt me." Too late, human. I put two of my claws into his chest. I twisted them sideways ignoring his howl of pain and I ripped them out. He just laid there, bleeding and crying. Pathetic human. But you don't deserve to suffer too much just because I hate your kind. I put my claws through his head, killing him quickly. But it does not make me feel better. The hatred is still there. Strong as ever. Maybe Xavier was right...? Is mercy a better way? I will attempt it. I can always elimate them if his way proves incorrect. Si I picked up my bag and continued to steal.
Two hours later...
I was sitting at a table in a Starbucks drinking water. I felt tired and heavy after eating a full meal. I usually stole just enough so I didn't starve. I got to eat my fill today because the owner was dead. What use is food to a dead person? I looked at the television. "A group of members of the Friends of Humanity were arrested today for murder of a fourteen-year-old girl. Maya Harkness was killed as she was walking the two blocks to her house from school and was intercepted by the criminals. The Friends of Humanity had this to say to the police..." I stopped listening. Humans? Killing mutants? They must be removed. I will need to make a visit to their headquarters in this city.
I exited the Starbucks and began walking back to a nearby school. I liked to sleep under the bleachers. People rarely bothered me and I could have all the nightmares I wanted. I was 16 so I could pass for a student if anyone asked why I was there. As I was walking I heard a gun cock. I listened intently and followed the sound to a nearby alley. A man was pointing a gun at a young woman and telling her to hand over her purse. "Give me the purse and I won't hurt you." I could smell the lie. Maybe that was it. Maybe I just felt sorry for her. Either way I walked into the alley and spoke bluntly. "Leave or die." He looked at me and laughed. He turned the gun around and fired. I felt the bullet impact my head and it snapped my head backwards. I raised my head back up and felt my healing factor push the bullet out. He stared at me, horrified and continued to fire. Four bullets hit me in the chest and one in the leg. I kept walking towards him and he tried to run. It was a dead end. I walked towards him, ignoring his pleading, grabbed his head in both hands, ignored his feeble attempts to fight me off, and twisted violently. I turned to the girl who stared at me, screamed and began running. Showing mercy is merely intensifying my hatred. It is also causing an unknown feeling of satisfaction. Perhaps Xavier's way has merit. Insufficient data to form a conclusion. I will make another attempt after I have rested.
I exited the alley and continued walking to the school. Along the way I thought. I need a purpose. A mission. I could not join the X-Men.. They distrust me now. I could join SHIELD. But then I would just be another weapon. This option is not acceptable. I will need to seek additional data. I was at the school. I walked behind it and went to the bleachers. I shoved my duffel bag under one and laid down under the other. I stared at the underside of the bleachers until I fell asleep.
"I've found him." I started at Charles statement. "He's in Elmont. I've already told the rest of the team to meet us in the hangar." I stood and began walking to the hangar with Charles close behind. "Why'd it take so long Chuck?" Normally finding a mutant with Cerebro took a few days or a week. This one took three weeks. "His mind is hard to pinpoint while he is awake. It practically screams when he sleeps though." Logan grimaced. He knew the feeling all too well. "Since he only sleeps two or three hours every day it is extremely difficult to get a lock on him." So he'll be tired. Good for us. They entered the hangar to see the rest of the team waiting. Laura, himself, Kurt, Kitty, Bobby, Rogue, Tabitha, Storm, Jean, and Scott. Huge team for a capture. Of course, with his training we need this many. "He's at a school in Elmont. He's been sleeping for about two hours now. He will wake up at any moment. The trip will take ten minutes in the Blackbird. Get going. Time is short." We began boarding immediately. Every second counts.