Redemption

Chapter Eight

  "Is Laura in position?"

"Yes,"

"Is she with Daken?"

"Yes, she just made contact,"

"Good,"

"Remind me again, Logan," Storm said, turning to her colleague. "Does Laura know she's been sent to bring in her brother?"

"No, she can't know," said Logan. "Her knowledge of who Daken is will jeopardize the mission."

Storm nodded, "She will find out eventually though, right?"

"If she needs to," Logan reassured her. 

I don't trust Laura. She seems to know a lot more about me than I might even know of myself. When I say something — like my mother dying for example — her expression is filled with sadness but her eyes . . . her eyes just seem bored. Like she knows everything about me. So I decided to lie.

"So," she asked. "What happened between you and your father? After he killed your mom."

"I found out he didn't kill her," I said, watching intently as the lie began to sink in. "It took a while but we're on good terms."

Something flashes in her eyes — doubt? No. — but she smiles.

"That's good,"

"You haven't told me much about yourself," I said, studying her. "What are you running from?" 

"My past," she said. Her eyes weren't lying. "My mom died when I was young."

"I'm so sorry," I said. Thank god I'm a better actor then she is. Laura meets my eyes. She's made a decision.

"Can I show you something?" she asked. "Just real quick?"

"Sure," I said.

She smiled and stood up. I followed her out of the cafe and toward the docks. I can faintly see the X-men's home Utopia in the distance. She stops at the end of one of the peers, out of sight from any pedestrians.

"What do you want to show me?" I asked, waiting for her next move.

"This,"

She's surprisingly strong. She pushes me into the water, head first and pushes me down, making me choke.

"I don't know why the X-men want you," she said. "But I'm pretty sure they have a good reason."

I smiled, not struggling in her grip. Laura looks shocked.

"You're not trying to fight it?"

I couldn't say a word, but she knew what I would have said. I don't need to. My hand shoots out of the water and I pull her in. I take advantage of her moment of shock and pull myself onto the dock. Seconds later she pulls herself out of the water. She charged at me with fists raised. I block one but the other hits my stomach. Something sharp stabs my stomach. A knife? No, there's two of them. I cough and she withdraws her hand, claws just like my own covered with my blood. She's related to Logan. Anger pushes away the pain. He sent his daughter to do his dirty work. 

"I'm sorry Daken," she said, smiling sadly. "I didn't have a choice."

"And neither do I," I grin, showing blood-soaked teeth. I ran her through.

"I wonder how Laura's doing." Logan said, passing nervously.

"She's going to be fine," Scott reassured him. "Laura's a strong girl, she can handle anything."

"But she can't handle Daken!" Logan yelled, stopping his pacing and turning on Scott. "Not even when her rage kicks in, Daken will flay her alive!"

Storm burst into the room, "It's Laura!" she gasped. "She's back!"

Scott and Logan burst into the make-shift hospital room with Storm hot on their heels. Laura was lying on the bed, wet, unconscious, and covered in blood.

"Daken did this to her!" Logan gasped. "She must have shown her claws!"

"He did that?" Scott asked in disbelief.

"Yes," said Logan. "Yes he did." 

I run through the side streets, trying to wipe the blood off my hands. I can't believe he sent one of his children after me. I find myself hoping that next time I run across one of them, I'll have the blade. But likely I'd have the entire X-men on my back. Laura is one of their star-children. If I just knock her and Rogue out, they'll be devastated, leaving me some time to get my act together. 

I run through the side streets, trying to wipe the blood off my hands. I can't believe he sent one of his children after me. I find myself hoping that next time I run across one of them, I'll have the blade. But likely I'd have the entire X-men on my back. Laura is one of their star-children. If I just knock her and Rogue out, they'll be devastated, leaving me some time to get my act together.

"We have to go after him!" Scott shouted. "He could do what he did to Laura to Rogue or the other children!"

"I agree!" Wolverine said. "Why aren't we going?"

"You jump to conclusions," said Charles Xavier. "He was defending himself."

"He was trying to send a message!" Wolverine bellowed. "You may be able to read minds but I know my son!"

"So now he's your son," Xavier said. "A minute ago you thought he was an animal." 

"This isn't time for debate," said Storm. "We're going after Daken. It's settled."

"Good," said Cyclops. "He's got nowhere to run."