X-23

Lakes and skiffs

2017-06-10T22:27:50Z

X is outside, seated cross-legged on a rock by the lake.

She is very still, breathing in, then out, then in again, and watching everything.

It is not meditation. But it is still nice.

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Enemy of the State

2017-03-08T03:09:45Z

A weekend trip to visit the petrified forest seemed like just the thing, though unfortunately one is often obliged to take pit stops during a road trip.

This is perhaps not the fanciest gas station and shopping complex in the area, but it's close and the people in it seem happy.

X will take it.

Hopefully Thor also does not mind.

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The nighttime is for me

2016-04-21T00:17:38Z

. . . a cloudless sky, every star clear as crystal, sharp-edged and shining and singing a glorious descant over barren black sands . . .

. . . running blood-hot and joyous through a wine-dark morning, tree branches hung with lianas dense and thick overhead, while behind runs a pack of creatures made of claws and teeth and fur and the beauty of the chase, the hunt, the kill . . .

. . . a city of ragged stone spires, air bone-dry and cold, six-legged beings prowling the streets and building elaborate structures of iron up and around the spires, the last decaying remnants of an old, old empire . . .

. . . wings beating and beating and beating overhead in a living jewel-bright tapestry, a ceremony honoring what is, what was, and what may yet be . . .

. . . a stone bench in a garden full of flowers many-petaled and many-dimensioned, vibrant and heavily scented, air still and only a little damp . . .

. . . a blasted plain . . .

. . . a mountain range covered in fire . . .

. . . people made of stars and stones and trees and grass and crystal and and and . . .

But like nightmares and dreams and sleep and life --

All vacations must end.

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When in doubt, throw people into something like the Danger Room

2016-02-26T16:35:37Z

X stops in front of a vast, dark cave mouth, head tilting as she studies it for a second.

Then she turns to Brienne and Harry.

"This is where we go in."

Beat.

"You are ready?"

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Meet the new boss

2016-02-09T13:46:45Z

X, Security badge pinned to her belt, is settled comfortably at a corner table, contentedly munching her way through a sandwich.

She may be on her second root beer float.

And, of course, she is keeping an ear -- and a nose -- out for anyone who might be approaching her.

It is only polite.

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Now it's time for another Good Idea, Bad Idea

2016-01-10T02:40:23Z

It is best to have a plan, X thinks, when bringing Deadpool home for a visit.

Introducing him to the Cactus With No Name seems safe enough.

For now.

And then they will go to the ocean.

Undead hordes might attack from there at any time.

Plus it is occasionally very entertaining to annoy Namor.

(Shh.)

But first, cactus!

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If I hadn't made me

2015-11-15T03:18:51Z

It's a cool day, and a little damp, but not cold.

Even if it were, that would not prevent X from going through her exercises. Currently she's working on different springing passes, fighting an invisible and imaginary opponent of some stripe.

She does a lot of bouncing between rocks. And flips.

This is punctuated by short, brutal striking patterns, designed for maximum efficiency.

Or so one would suppose.

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San Francisco with Dick!

2015-08-29T20:49:21Z

Fisherman's Wharf is a nice place. Crowded, but nice. There are a lot of people, and it is a good place to pretend to be normal.

To practice blending in, as it were.

And also, at this particular moment, to go see the Musée Mécanique. Because 19th century penny arcade games are great.

And X has been told it is fun.

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Daemon AU

2015-07-19T01:00:03Z

X's daemon is a Great Grey Shrike named Invictus. He's judgy as hell, and will clearly let you know it. He also likes sitting in the curve between X's neck and shoulder. He is the master of terrible, sarcastic jokes. Before eight years ago he was silent. They were separated by the Facility. For multiple reasons.

Everything else about her life is the same.

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Ain't no party like a Labyrinth party 'cause a Labyrinth party don't stop

2015-05-26T01:44:58Z

Some days a woman just gets bored with the same old, same old.

Some days this happens in the middle of sparring with Thor.

Some days, like this day, it results in two people who should probably know better but don't care heading off into the Labyrinth.

A change is as good as a rest, right?

And new things are fun.

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We all float on okay

2015-01-24T00:51:54Z

X is in no way lurking in the forest.

Not at all.

Okay, fine. She is practicing her stalking skills on demon rabbits.

They have sensitive hearing.

It is useful.

(Shut up.)

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cutting_edgex23 @ 2014-08-21T09:34:00

2014-08-21T13:36:29Z

X, after a long Security shift, has finally settled at a booth near the back of the bar.

She's got sandwiches in front of her, several glasses of milk, and --

Is that a beer?

(Maybe.)

Possibly she's waiting for someone.

Go figure.

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yellow bird flying

2014-03-29T23:12:03Z

X doesn't leave any notes.

She takes Thor to Greymalkin Industries, acknowledging the mutants they pass with a quick flickering gaze, then moving quickly on.

It's the walk of an X-23 with business to attend to. They've all seen it before. Only half of them manage to ignore the Asgardian that accompanies her.

Once they've made it to the garage, X fishes out helmets for both of them, then checks two motorcycles (her usual and one other) for full gas tanks and decent repair.

That done, they're ready to go.

It's going to be a long, travel-filled week. And at the end --

Well.

They'll find out when they get there.

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A meeting of minds is occasionally a metaphor

2013-12-28T22:24:00Z

Once she catches Charles' scent in the air, it takes X only a few moments to do the rest of the work of tracking him down.

Some things should be done as quickly as possible.

Especially when they involve people being trapped in Milliways, however self-inflicted.

"Charles."

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Counting up my demons

2013-10-01T23:18:35Z

As X and Elle make their way out of Milliways' front door and into the elevator X left a few months ago, X's hand in Elle's isn't sweaty -- yet. Her grip, however, is just this side of too-tight.

Some things are worse than Hell, even with practice. Even with respirators, in fact, because neither Elle nor X are stupid enough to try this without them.

The intercom clicks off into silence as the elevator doors slide open.

ping

Chaos greets them, aerosolized trigger scent filling the air just ahead of the sudden snarls from men, women, and children overtaken by the chemical mixture.

Their eyes all glow red -- and they pounce. On each other.

Soon there will undoubtedly be blood.

"Jubilee!"

X's voice rings out over the shrieking throng.

"Logan! Stop them from hurting each other!"

It isn't as if either of the other X-men need such commands, but -- it is important for them to know she is okay.

And she is okay. For now.

In the meantime, she and Elle put their plan to work. X keeps the enraged civilians from attacking Elle as they move toward first the air purification systems -- the better to turn them off and prevent the trigger scent from reaching street level -- then the fire suppression system. Electromagnetic powers makes turning rusted valves and stalling whirring fanblades into a significantly easier exercise than trying to find the relevant scaffolding.

Washing the trigger scent into the sewers might mean bad things for the rats, but it is unlikely to be re-aerosolized. It could be worse.

X will be relieved.

Later.

In the meantime, there are a great many injured and frightened people to provide for. There is also evidence to obtain.

X will find the person who did this.

And she will kill them.

It is a promise.

Elle will not let her do anything less.

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When the stars threw down their spears

2013-06-08T23:49:48Z

Norman agrees to take X, Elle, and Bruce up to the mountains, though he does sniff disdainfully when Thor decides to fly himself.

The trip itself is cold and breezy, because it is made in dragon claws, and they do not offer all that much protection against the elements. Still, it is not raining. That would make this even more difficult than it will be already.

Norman -- in consultation with the others -- eventually sets them down on a flattish outcropping of stones, then takes himself and Bruce to perch on a separate, nearby rock.

It gives them the best view.

X, in the meantime, gives Elle a small bottle of trigger scent, then goes to stand by Thor and wait.

She is tense as piano wire.

The scent of fear is heavy in the air.

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What the hammer? What the chain?

2013-06-02T22:00:45Z

She only has time to grab her Security badge, thinking desperately of Milliways -- there are people who can stop her there -- before the elevator floods with trigger scent and the doors open.

Into the bar.

X has a flickering second to focus on running toward the back door and away.

Then her vision goes red, and there is nothing left but the urge to kill.

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Tyger, tyger burning bright

2013-06-02T21:48:29Z

The phone call from Gambit is a surprise. But he has been in Madripoor, recently, visiting an old friend named Tyger.

She had information for him. About an arms deal. One of the parties was Colcord.

He sold something called a 'trigger scent' to a woman. None of Tyger's sources know the woman's name.

But they do know the port of call for the shipment. Paris.

X calls Warren. For this, he is willing to lend her Worthington Industries' jet.

She makes good use of it.

******

Tracking down the shipment is more time consuming than X would like. Even with Gambit and Jubilee helping, and Pixie relaying information from Cypher --

If she were not so afraid, X would be better at waiting.

******

The information breaks eventually, and X and her chosen teammates stage a raid on the labs where the testing is taking place.

There is blood everywhere. Most of it is not their fault.

Several potential clients were witnesses to a staged testing scenario. Humans rounded up from the street and doused with the trigger scent ripped each other apart with absolutely no hesitation.

X could not save any of them.

As for the clients --

Maybe it would be better to leave them for the authorities. But some of them liked what they saw. So much. Too much.

And messages are important.

Many people will not miss the point of this one. She will make sure of it.

As for the surviving victims and test subjects -- those not used for the demonstration --

X leaves Gambit and Jubilee to call the police. And deal with them.

She wants to be alone.

******

She's riding the elevator down to the platform at Cité, seeking to blend into the crowd and disappear for a while, when a voice comes over the intercom system.

X stiffens.

"Laura Kinney."

The voice sounds amused. And familiar. There should be some comfort in the fact that the speaker is using the wrong name, that she doesn't know her anymore. But it's too late for comfort now.

"You remember my voice, don't you? My . . . scent? I suppose you also realize, now, that your old trigger scent has been modified. It will send anyone into a killing rage now. But your rages, Laura . . . they've always been particularly spectacular."

X's pulse picks up. Her breathing rate does, too. This is what it means to be afraid.

No.

This is what it means to be terrified.

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There are no teddy bears at this picnic

2013-05-16T00:16:38Z

It's a lovely, sunny afternoon in the Forest of Faraway, which is why X and Bruce have brought the Princess Royal out for a picnic.

The blanket was carefully chosen by Susan, as was the basket containing the food.

The food itself is a product of the castle kitchens. They know all of Susan's favorites. It seemed easiest.

There may also be some apple pastries, just in case Norman stops by. It is best to be prepared.

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We'll feed you to the sharks

2013-03-24T15:09:34Z

Stepping from Milliways into Madripoor is like moving from silence into chaos. The riots are still raging, and everywhere seems full of smoke, fire, the press of frantic bodies, and the sharp prickle of too many eyes watching.

"He has a meet scheduled nearby. Colcord. With a man in a mask."

Beat.

"We will need to immobilize them both."

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High tides ebb and flow

2013-03-24T15:06:37Z

The trip to Detroit was useful, insofar as it left X with a name: Metzger. His location?

A seemingly under-funded lab in Madripoor.

X spends some time sending out inquiries to former colleagues and friends-of-friends -- the X-men get around. What information she receives she keeps track of, until she thinks she has something of a plan.

Then she strategizes with Elle. It only makes sense, and not taking back-up into a difficult situation can be stupid.

This is doubly so when the news confirms that X will be traveling into a riot zone. She could postpone the trip, but that would give Metzger time to get away. Provided he is not killed in the fighting.

Stranger things have happened.

****

One of those stranger things includes the fact that when X tracks Doctor Metzger down, he's dying, bedridden and swearing at her as soon as he recognizes her face.

She does not understand why his current condition is her responsibility, but that detail is hardly relevant to her mission.

He gives her the name of the man he worked for. Colcord. There is still more swearing.

She kills him before she leaves. Because he asks.

****

Tracking Colcord is a more difficult proposition. He is smart, he is canny, and he has friends in high places.

Fortunately X can listen with the best of them and, for short bursts, she is good at blending in.

It helps that very few of the people around her are paying much attention to anyone who isn't directly trying to kill them. Smoke from the fires also helps in concealment.

Their are rumors about people having contact with a man in a mask, supposedly the spokesman for the council of gang leaders that runs the city. The name Tyger is also thrown around, and X files it away. Just in case.

Eventually word reaches her of a meet between the masked man and a resesarch scientist. The scientist is Colcord.

X takes note of the time, then takes a detour to Milliways for back-up.

There is a great deal of work to be done.

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I find your lack of faith disturbing

2013-02-21T03:05:13Z

There is a clearing out in the forest, surrounded by splintered and scarred trees, along with the occasional charred stone.

The smell of blood, both old and new, is heavy in the air.

X, you see, is still learning how best to dodge.

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winter wonderland

2013-01-27T17:01:03Z

The interesting thing with X is that she does not feel the cold very well, even with six inches of snow on the ground. Plus she is used to parkas and scarves and bobble-hats as a way to disguise this, and Ambergeldar does not have all of those.

Which means she is consulting with Princess Susan on what would be appropriate snow gear for their adventure today.

It only makes sense.

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Candyland Diorama

2012-11-20T06:06:09Z

When one's student vanishes for what seems to have been a long period of time -- not that X can really be sure -- it seems only sensible to go looking for him.

Her tracking capabilities are very helpful in this regard.

So is her knowledge of the location of his and Leo's apartment.

Go figure.

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Sometimes mission parameters are unhealthy. Oh well.

2012-10-22T03:41:38Z

After talking to Bucky (and reading Teja's note), X cannot ignore the sharp demands of her mission parameters anymore.

The sickness is problematic, and so is the knocking people unconscious -- particularly in the bar proper.

Which means, if this Slenderman is out there -- someone has to explain the rules. And enforce them. And since X is one of the least-affected people she's met, it seems like a not-terrible idea to be the one to try.

She brings back-up, of course. And Elle has met the Slenderman before. Maybe that will . . . aid in their efficacy.

Though the sight of the decrepit house by the lake is not particularly comforting, in that regard.

Still. Needs must.

Which is why X begins making her approach, not even trying to be quiet.

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