X-23

CHAPTER 1

“Let me get this right: Weapon X left HYDRA for a mutant group called the…. X-men?” Gabriel Rice, the chief commissioner for HYDRA which was a criminal organization dealing mostly in assassinations, kidnapping, thieving, and selling information, could not believe it. He, Gabriel Rice had spent a whole lot of his money on Weapon X’s operation. And equipment. And training. Weapon X would pay for this! Gabriel Rice hissed out into the piercing blackness, his indigo blue eyes flashing dangerously at Lt. John Cuthbert. “He left quickly?”

“Yes sir. Here is his resignation, sir.”

Cuthbert was a brave man. He had gone through things that would have crushed a person of lesser determination. But this man, with a single glance, was able to chill Cuthbert’s blood.

“Blast you, Cuthbert. I don’t care about his ‘resignation’.” What I want to know is: Is it permanent? I mean, does the fool think he’s out of it for good? Or is it just another one of his whims?”

“He seemed pretty serious to me, sir. As Weapon X was leaving, he flashed his claws in the face of one of the government agents.”

“May I have permission to state an opinion?” The stretched, wiry, old man with the malevolent blue eyes cocked his head and turned, sneering, around to face Cuthbert.

“Yes? Go right ahead.”

“Sir, if I were you, I’d-” Cuthbert hesitated, knowing the dreadfulness of what he was about to say.

Gabriel Rice snarled, articulating each word in a snaky whisper. “Spit---it---out!”

In a burst of confidence, Cuthbert rushed through the sentence. “Well, sir…I’d make a clone of Weapon X.”

 

Months later………

Gabriel Rice strode briskly through the Michael Edwards Lab. Tapping one of the Genetic Scientists on the shoulder, he queried urgently, “Is ‘It’ going well? Have you made It yet?”

Dr. Deborah Risman turned calmly to face this loathsome commissioner. “No, not yet. The Y-chromosomes keeping dying every time we manage group any together. ” Dr. Deborah may have seemed composed and unconcerned outwardly, but inside she was gulping, knowing very well that project Cloning X was in severe trouble. The Genetic Scientists had tried twenty two times to produce the fetus HYDRA wanted. Her father needed this money badly for a heart operation. She couldn’t fail. Not with so much at stake.  Gabriel Rice leaned in close, his hot breath tickling her face. “What will you do to fix the problem? The Council needs It done by next month! We found spies in our territory! If It is not finished soon, we will have started a war with The Reavers for nothing!” Erecting his lowered head, a hateful sight greeted his eyes. Gabriel Rice growled. “Laura! I should of known you’d be here to gloat over me!”

Stepping back, he turned to face his hated archenemy: Laura Browning. Laura Browning laughed quietly, contemptuously. Deliberately, she ignored Gabriel Rice, instead speaking in chilling tones to Dr. Deborah. “Here, let me try. I am, after all, a known experimenter in Genetics.” Sighing deeply, Dr. Deborah stood up. “Sure. What have we got to lose?” She moved to the wall, giving Laura Browning the chair. Pressing a couple of buttons, Laura Browning created a sequence of letters, numbers, and waves that Dr. Deborah had never seen before, and sure enough, the fetus began rising up into the center of the man-sized status tube.

A mixed expression of derision and amusement passed over Gabriel Rice’s face. “So, Laura, does succeeding where I have failed make you feel… accomplished? If so, guess who I have picked to give birth to this little animal?” Dr. Deborah drew back in horror. Gabriel Rice couldn’t. He wouldn’t. Would he? Laura Browning turned pale. “You wouldn’t!” Gabriel Rice smirked. “I’ve already made arrangements for the implantation of the clone into you, my dear, dear Laura.” Though shaken, Laura still had plenty of fight left. “You fool! The Government will never let this happen!”       

Chapter 2

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The scream echoed throughout the hallways of the military hospital. Gabriel Rice smiled, a thin-lipped smile. At last, his insufferable rival was getting her due. “Rice, you will pay for this! You will pay! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”  Lifting his calm voice over the birthing woman’s cry, Gabriel Rice questioned the doctor. “How long until It is popped out?”

“ Not long. Any minute now.” “Good.” “AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” “It’s coming! Push! Push harder!” Laura Browning glared at the man who had forced her to go through such extreme pain. “OHHHHHHHHH!”

 At last the baby’s sob was heard, such a tiny sound with such large implications. It had worked. The first clone had just been born! As Gabriel Rice gazed upon the newborn, he felt no joy, only a deep sense of loathing. He had failed. His deadly enemy created the clone. This child was a living testimony to his failure. Tearing himself away from the obnoxious sight, he snarled at the pale, pimply, doctor, “How long does It stay in the hospital? When can It start training? And what about the metal skeleton? When can I infuse it into It’s bones?”  “Steady now. It stays for the standard time in the hospital. We’ll see how strong the clone turns out, It might die soon. No way of telling. And as for the infusion of the metal skeleton, 3 years would be best.” Gabriel Rice nodded, pleased. To be able to infuse the skeleton so young! “And the training? When can I start It?”

The medic rushed through his words, hoping to have it over with, “Whenever you think it best, sir. I’m sorry, I must go…a wounded soldier needs me for a amputation.”

“Go.” Gabriel Rice slowly took the child from the cart she was laid on, and held her, crooning at her. The doctor, at first bored, changed his mind. The baby was adorable! Sneaking a peek at the “father”, the young medic shuddered to witness Gabriel’s malicious expression. Surely it was not safe to leave a newborn, helpless to the highest degree with this man. The redheaded doctor had seen Rice do depraved things to women and children, so ill and weak they could not resist him. The adolescent physician considered rescuing the girl-baby………. “Come on Fred! No time! The soldier….!” Instinctively, he rushed out to the sufferer, leaving the baby to her fate.