Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter of Marvel.
A/N: So, it seems that the last chapter was a bit... controversial. Some criticisms I can understand, others I feel are a bit redundant. I shall start with the last: complaining that Harry is no longer Harry. From the beginning, it should have been obvious that Harry was a completely different person, even without the revelation of a split personality. A person is a sum of their experiences - a living weapon will not be the same as a meek abuse victim.
On to the more... understandable criticisms. First, the Split Personality. I'm sorry that this has put some people off, but this has been the plan from the start, and will be a source for a lot of drama. My plan has always been to have Harry struggle between a feral Logan-esque persona and that of a brutal, sadistic killer. It is also not being include for humour, as reviewer seems to believe (my apologies if I have misunderstood the review), but rather to provide further troubles for Harry to overcome.
Also, on the limitations of certain mutations. This is sci-fi. Powers are not well defined. Take Nightcrawlers: on numerous occasions, he has stated he has to see where he is going, else he teleport inside something, yet he consistently teleports through walls. Sure, he can theoretically teleport beyond line of sight, but it is extremely risky.
Also, the pain reduction being weakened? It will still take a lot for him to even feel pain. A bullet or a stab wound will sting slightly. It's things like having his back broken or spinal column torn that will cause problems.
As for Wolverine's healing factor... the first thing to note is that it is not Deadpool's. Deadpool's is practically super-cancer, capable of regenerating anything and everything - it is, quite simply, extremely efficient regeneration. That is not what Wolverine's is. It is a healing factor - he heals as any being does, just at an extremely enhanced rate. As such, he cannot regenerate lost tissue that a normal human couldn't (assuming they survive their wounds long enough, that is). So, losing an eye? The human body cannot regenerate an eye. Therefore, neither can Wolverine, or in this case, Harry. In case you don't believe me, see the 1995 comic Age of Apocalypse. Logan loses his hand in the conflict, and it never grows back, because human's can't do that. Deadpool however? He regularly regrows limbs. He doesn't care about pesky things like the limitations of the human race.
Apologies for the rant.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 7: Isolation
The Weapon awoke, strapped to a metal frame, in his chamber. He felt something over his empty eye socket - an eyepatch, leather by the smell of it. Black ink, It was cold - not something he had noticed before, so he chose to ignore it. Instead, he turned his attention back to two others currently residing with him. He knew the first very well - the clean shaven, buzz cut man known to him only as Ajax, one of his handlers. The other he had met before, a long time ago. A social trainer, he thought. Kinney? That sounded right.
He disliked them. They imprisoned him, commanded him, and he… hated them, if his disdain could be that strong. He idly wondered what they would look like, bleeding beneath his claws. A damn sight better than they did breathing, he thought. But he would have to bide his time, obey their instructions, for the time being. They had power, after all. He did, too, but they had manpower. Hundreds of bodies willing to lay down their life to protect them. He didn't. He only had himself. So he would wait. He would obey. But he wouldn't be silent. Not anymore.
"You know, there are two hundred and fifteen ways that I could kill you right now," he said airily, making the doctor jump. Good. They hadn't noticed he was awake. "With my full arsenal, it exceeds a million."
"So, you're awake," Ajax smiled thinly. "A bit of a change to earlier - a bit more sanity, hmm?"
The Weapon barked a laugh. "I am hardly sane, handler. My insanity merely takes a… subtler form than my counterpart's."
"Your counterpart?" Kinney asked. "So you are aware of your Split Personality? Fascinating…"
"Of course I am, foolish doctor," he hissed. "He is in this sack of flesh, as am I. But do you know what would be truly fascinating? Seeing how long it would take to drain that fleshy sack of its fluid… How about we test that?"
Kinney whimpered slightly, drawing back slightly.
"Now now, Weapon, none of that," Ajax chided. "The doctor is to be given the same obedience as you give me."
The Weapon scoffed. "She is weak. It would be easy to end her insignificant life, barely an inconvenience. I would bathe in her blood before you could stop me… You, however… I have no doubt your backup would arrive before I finished."
"She has the backing of this facility," Ajax said coolly. "Her intelligence makes her valuable. Any attempt to harm her person will be punished."
The Weapon chuckled. "Understandable. You have power, and so I will obey. Your blood shall not be spilt." He gave a sly grin. "So, what are you going to do with me now? I believe that the emergence of my individuality will have thrown a wrench in your plans, as they say."
"It is true that you will need further training," Ajax said. "Training that you shouldn't have needed. This is where Doctor Kinney will come in."
He scoffed. "As if that wench can teach me anything."
"I-I will be helping you with your mental and emotional development," Kinney said.
"My mind is superior to any living being in this facility," the Weapon droned. "I see no need for further education."
"Not… that kind of development," Kinney winced. "Whether the facility likes it or not, you are a human being. Certain… guidance is needed, particularly when related to your emotions."
"Emotions are unimportant," the Weapon drawled. "They are for weaklings incapable of constructing logical arguments." He licked his lips. "The same weaklings destined for evisceration."
"A commendable stance," Ajax replied. "But Doctor Kinney's guidance is still important. Despite your best efforts, you may be swayed by your emotions. It is Doctor Kinney's job to help you identify these, so that you can compartmentalise these issues and deal with them at a later date." He fixed a glare at the doctor. "Despite some of her… unauthorised teachings, she has proven capable of teaching our other weapon."
"Other Weapon?" he inquired, before growling. "X23."
Ajax nodded. "Indeed. An inferior Weapon, but efficient nonetheless."
"She took my eye," he growled. "But she is strong. Yet I saw no sanity in those eyes, no intelligence. Why the need for… emotional guidance?"
"Ah, but she is only like that under Trig-X," Ajax chuckled. "While feral, she is very much sentient, and very emotional. Have no fear, though, we will not be introducing you to the Trigger."
"Only because it would be unsuccessful," the Weapon scoffed. "I am too developed for such a procedure."
Ajax grimaced. "Indeed. I trust you will follow commands."
The Weapon dipped his head. "To a degree. But if I come across X23, all bets are off. I will bathe my claws in her blood."
"Laura is a very nice girl, given the circumstances," Kinney protested. "I'm sure you'd get along nicely if you got to know her."
"If you are anything to go by, I doubt that," he spat.
"Regardless," Ajax sighed. "You will have to learn to work alongside her. She will be your partner in future excursions."
"Doubting my abilities?" the Weapon chided.
"Your loyalty," Ajax corrected.
The Weapon gave a barking laugh. "Fair enough. Now, can I ask a favour?"
Ajax raised an eyebrow. " the request."
The Weapon gave a sinister smile. "Bring me something to kill."
Ajax laughed. "I can do that."
X
Sarah Kinney stood outside the Weapon's cell, shifting nervously on the spot. She would be going into the proverbial beast's den, alone, armed with only a pistol and a stun baton. And to help matters, the beast seemed to hold a grudge against her. Or at least disdain. And she was going to try teaching it morals.
It was easier with Laura. She was her mother, sort of. She'd been teaching her since birth. Sure, she was feral and violent and had killed more people than the average soldier had, but at least she was somewhat stable. Somewhat capable of acting like a normal child. She doubted the Weapon would ever be like that.
She was not prepared for the smell - no, stench - that overpowered her as the pneumatic doors hissed open. A rotting, coppery stench… the stench of dead bodies.
Ajax must have been inclined to acquiesce to the request, for the once white cell was now splattered by browning blood stains, the floor littered with bodies. None remained breathing,
The killings seemed to change halfway across the room. Nearer to her, they seemed to be killed slowly, with precise cuts made to cause maximum pain, the end result looking like some sort of crooked dissection. They were sadistic, but almost professional.
The other killings were completely different. These were brutal, with no apparent pattern to the strikes, designed only to hack an opponent to death. Despite the violent nature of these deaths, Kinney couldn't help but feel that these were the lucky ones.
She froze as a rumbling growl rose up behind her. Turning slowly, she found herself facing the Weapon, standing upright, his hair wild and knotted, his clothes bloodstained. His nose was quivering, his eye unfocussed. Most worrying were his claws, extended and caked in gore.
"H-hello," she began, stammering through her introductions. "I'm D-Doctor S-Sarah Kinney, and I'll be your teacher."
"I know," he growled. "Ajax said. Don't like him. Don't like you."
She whimpered. "Please don't kill me."
"Can't," he huffed, sheathing his claws, the gore sticking to his knuckles, ignored by the Weapon. "Ajax is strong. Cannot beat everyone. Must obey."
"O-okay," she said, trying to smile. She failed. "Shall we start by expanding on that? Why don't you like Ajax?"
He growled. "He's strong. He controls me, imprisons me, punishes me. He should die. I should kill him, but I'm not strong enough."
"That is… understandable," she continued. "And why… why don't you like me."
"Don't trust you," he growled. "You're one of them." He sniffed, freezing. His eye widened, a momentary flash of fear appearing before they narrowed. "You smell like her."
"Her?" Kinney asked.
"The killer," he shouted, gnashing his teeth. "The torturer, the weapon. X23."
"Ah," Kinney winced. She was hoping this personality was more amenable to her 'daughter'. "Is there anything you want to know before we continue?"
"My name," he hissed.
She blinked. "What?"
"I want to know my name," he growled. "I'm a person. You said that. People had names. I remember having a name, but I cannot remember what it was."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I do not know. I've only ever been told that you were Weapon M."
"Phone."
She blinked. "What?"
"You have a phone," he growled impatiently. "I can smell it. Use it."
She blushed as she drew out the device. His feral nature had thrown her off - she forgot that he retained all the knowledge he had had as a Weapon. "Okay, I'm just calling… Director? Yes, all good. He'd like his name. Yes, it's important. Thank you." She replaced the device in her pocket. "I have been told that your name is Harry - Harry Potter.
"Harry," he said quietly, rolling the word in his mouth. "I suppose it is as good as any other."
"Well, Harry," Kinney continued. "Shall we discuss how you are feeling?"
Harry nodded hesitantly. He didn't trust her, but he could work with her.
X
"Hello, Harry," Kinney called out as she entered the cell. "How are you today?"
"I am not that simpleton," the Weapon scoffed. "He is away. You have me today."
"Erm… are you going to be cooperative?" she asked nervously.
"Of course," he drawled. "Even the simpleton can see that killing you is not worth the effort. Unlike him, I will merely tolerate you - I will obey instructions, but that is it."
"You refer to him as a simpleton, despite his intelligence being equal to yours. Why is this?" Kinney asked, already having a theory.
"He has the intelligence, but he doesn't use it. He relies instead on animal instinct and emotions," he said, curling his lip in disgust. "He does not perceive logic as I do."
"Emotions are important, Harry-"
"I am not Harry," he hissed. "I have not been Harry since I was taken from the Dursleys."
"The Dursleys?" she asked.
"My aunt and uncle," he snarled. "Abusive freaks who raised an incompetent weakling. But that is irrelevant. I am strong now."
"You remember that?" she asked, surprised.
"I remember it all," the Weapon drawled. "My memory is superior to that of my counterpart - perhaps due to it being stored in the left side of the brain, hmm?"
"Yes, that is likely," Kinney answered.
"While you are wasting my precious isolation, shall we begin your inane prattle?" he asked.
She frowned at his wording. "Yes…"
"Well then," he said sharply. "Where shall we begin, doctor." His lip curled at the last word, disdain clear in his voice.
"What about your name?" she suggested.
"My name?" he blinked. "What about it?"
"Well, what do you want to be called?" she asked. "Names are an important part of our identity. Since you have rejected Harry…"
"Doesn't 'Weapon' work well enough?" he asked dryly. "It is an adequate summary of my purpose, hmm?"
"That's… not quite what I meant," she sighed. "A name doesn't have to mean anything, just be a way of representing yourself."
He scoffed. "Then I have no need for a name."
"Work with me here," Kinney begged. "I'm trying to help you here, like Harry and Laura. But you need to work with me."
He froze, nostrils flaring. "Don't mention her name," he growled.
"Who, Laura?" she asked.
"I said don't!" he yelled, popping out his claws.
"Okay!" she cried, flinching backwards.
He glared at her for a moment. "Tom."
She blinked. "Huh?"
"Tom. That can be my name?"
"Alright, Tom," she said. "Is there any reason for that?"
Tom shrugged. "Seems… fitting. Sounds like a killer."
Kinney didn't question that, but she didn't exactly follow. "Alright… now, how do you feel about your counterpart, Harry?"
The subsequent glare was answer enough.
A/N: So, a bit of a look into the personalities of Harry. No prizes for where the killer gets his name from. How he makes that connection, however, is definitely prize worthy. If I could afford prizes. Which I can't. Go figure.
We are coming to the end of the Weapon arc, and boy, is it gonna end with a bang. Before the finale (multi-chapter!), however, we have a couple more things to look into. So, next time - Laura meets Harry!
Please favourite, follow and review. It is thanks to your immense support that I am on this writing spurt. Let's keep it up!
No questions this time.
Until next time, this is JaguarAJG, signing off.