Memories

One Must Die

Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any of their characters. Tora and Weapon X-ii are my own though.

Tora ran across the land, ignoring all scents other than the one directly in front of her. And then she was there. Poacher was holding Jamie aloft, as if she was an Aztec priest and he was the knife. He was crying, knowing somehow that this person wasn't his mother.

"Hello 'Tora'."

"Give. Him. Back."

An evil smile twisted around Poacher's lips.

"So protective. So…touching. Are you like this with everyone?"

Tora snarled.

"This is our fight. Don't drag my son into this."

"I have my plans for this boy. Wouldn't it be bittersweet if your own son killed you? I could raise him as my own. Teach him to hate you. Or…I could just do this."

Claws ripped through the sleepsuit and Jamie screamed. Then he was dropped and Tora howled. Poacher's eyes widened in fear as she saw the animal break free. An animal whose greatest instinct was to protect her infant. Claws chickted into position and she charged, screaming. There was no strategy, no plan. Just a deep-set desire. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Tora seemed oblivious to the claws tearing into her arms. All that mattered was her cub was dead. And this female was responsible. Therefore, this female must die. Her training came into play and she dodged a swipe to the chest. Tora was deep down, but even she was baying for blood. Then claws pierced unresisting flesh.

Phoenix recoiled in horror.

"Oh…"

Logan was running when he heard the scream. He picked up the pace and Tora appeared ahead, charging Poacher. A small body lay on the ground. NO! Please no! Then he saw Tora take a swipe to her arm and he was still too far away to help and then he saw her snarl and claws ripped through flesh and bone, piercing a heart and lungs. Then Tora screamed again, this time a scream of regret and pain. And she sheathed her claws and the body slumped away from her. She looked down at her bloodstained gloves and blinked, then she collapsed to the ground murmuring under her breath. Logan could almost hear the words.

"Father…accident…I have…hate myself…one of us…had to die…"

He wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to cry onto his shoulder, then she stopped and crawled over to Jamie. He heard her intake of breath and moved quickly, to see the gashes healing in his chest and the blue eyes opening.

"Impossible…"

Then Jamie started bawling that showed he was hungry and Tora peeled off her gloves and threw them aside. As she comforted him, Logan walked over to the body. She looked scarily like Tora. A dead Tora, lying spread-eagled on the ground, blood pooling over her chest from the eight puncture wounds. He knew what he had to do next. He carefully changed the injuries, so it looked as though he had been the one to stab her and stab her in a fit of berserker rage. Tora… He couldn't let them look down on Tora for what she had done. The way he knew Scott looked down on him. Then he glanced over at Tora, holding Jamie close, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes met his.

"If I ever, ever do that again Logan, no matter the circumstances, swear to me, swear to me, that you will kill me before I become her."

"Tora…"

"Swear to me Logan."

He could see she meant this.

"I will swear if you agree to one thing."

"What?"

"That you will back me up when I say that I killed her."

"Logan…"

"Tora, I will only swear what you want me to, if you agree to this."

He saw the conflict in her eyes. The love of the truth and the fear of what she could become. He felt terrible doing this, but it was for her own good.

"I swear."

He nodded.

"Then I promise that if you ever murder anyone, no matter on what reason, I will…kill you."

She nodded and then she looked away, returning to soothing Jamie. He turned round and hoped he had a signal up here. They needed to go home. Here was unsafe. And just now, the mansion was the safest place to be. Where people could be watching out for Tora and Jamie.

Phoenix looked at her companion.

"She killed…"

"Of course she did."

"But I've killed. I killed two men, while in my right mind. Although Prism was an accident."

"I know."

"She knew as well."

"But Logan knew how Scott would react."

Hank's first thought when he stepped off the Blackbird was that Tora was hurt. Her arms had been bandaged and she had an impressive black eye that was already fading to green and yellow. Then he saw the blanket on the ground. He knew why he was here. The blanket pulled back to reveal a face that looked scarily like Tora had once looked. He pulled down further, revealing the slashes in her chest and stomach.

"Who did this?"

"I did."

He turned and saw Logan standing looking defiant.

"How, when she has a healing factor?"

"Tora gave me some of her healing halter. I used that."

Hank nodded. Then he saw the travelling cot that lay beside Tora.

"How's Jamie?"

"He's asleep."

Hank glanced down at the child who was indeed asleep and cuddling close to the Bamf doll that Kurt had given his godson. This was going to be difficult. Not to mention they now had two Tora clones dead. One buried in the mansion and with a changed gravestone. The other lying at his feet. How many were there exactly? Tora wasn't entirely sure. She knew how many brain dead versions there were as she had learned to control them. But if they were like Poacher then she hadn't a clue. She thought Poacher was unique, a back-up in case she did something that damaged herself permanently. Then she would be 'culled' and Poacher would be removed from stasis and continue from where Tora had left off. But she couldn't be certain. Hank sighed and helped Logan move the body into the Blackbird. Cremation seemed the best option. That way it would be almost impossible for her to be brought back.

Jean shuddered.

"I can't believe Tora insisted we give Poacher a proper funeral."

"It was a matter of respect."