Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "More dangerous than Iceland!"

Jacques Raphael Versailles (ghostofthedales) wrote in new_worlds,
@ 2011-11-10 01:37:00

Who: X-24, LOCKED to X-23
What: A strike against a clone facility
Where: Upstate New York
When: November 9th, 2011
Rating: High
Status: LOCKED, Incomplete

Jacques had been training intensely and had all seven of his silver vials of pure spirit essence distilled to its fullest potency. He had also added monofilament wire and flashbang grenades to his arsenal. He had adopted his finished Revenant suit but decided to bear his cross and become X-24. Neither Ghost nor Revenant were used in six months and despite being told it didn't have to be this way he now bore an embroidery with "XXIV" on it in golden threads. He wore all black with golden trim and the helmet that was like an elegant yet functional fencers helmet with a blue bulletproof glass visor that completely concealed his face. He carried a pair of silver 454 Cassull handguns a menacing thirteen inches long and firing blessed silver bullets almost the size of a crayon.

The swordsman had his twin swords ready and sheathed as he checked his gear. After that he went to find his best friend, Laura Kinney. He sat in her favorite tree and waited for her knowing his scent was easy to find.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-11 03:48 am UTC (link)

Laura strolled down the slope of the grounds to groomed grove, weaving through the trees and taking in the scents and sounds outside of the mansion. It was getting colder, soon she'd prefer the indoors than spending her time outside. At least she didn't sleep out here any more. Catching a scent on the breeze, she turned her path to more familiar grounds. She looked up and crossed her arms, smirking expectantly at Jacques. "You're in my tree."

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-11 04:22 am UTC (link)

Jacques chuckled and said "Just keeping your seat warm." He acrobatically dropped from whee he had been perched to a crouching position with his cloak spread out across the ground in a complete circle like a billowing shadow. He stood up and said in a serious tone, a contrast to his previous almost childlike enthusiasm "I managed to locate a functioning clone. I thought I should tell you since I'm planning to go after it very soon. I'd prefer assistance with it and would like to ask if you would help me finish this battle."

He'd been trying to hide his eyes from everyone lately because they had taken on strange black sclera and yellow irises dialated almost like a cat or a dragon. In certain light the yellow could be seen even through the dark blue glass of his visor. He had it under control for now and his eyes were their normal deep blue coloration but deep down it worried him.

"Care to kill some bad Jacques knockoffs?"

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-11 04:55 am UTC (link)

She stepped back to give him and his outfit plenty of space. "You look like Batman meets the Opera Ghost," Laura pointed out as he leaped to the ground. But it seemed the good humor of the moment was gone and Laura's smile left as well. He explained that clones of him existed, that he was going to kill them and he wanted her help. It was only a matter of time before the Facility pulled a stunt like this.

"Are you sure you should be doing this?" she asked flatly, frowning at him. He has been struggling recently with controlling all the powers grafted onto him, and with the fact he covered his face now, she had reason to be concerned. She looked over her shoulder at the peaceful mutant haven and sighed slowly, nodding at Jacques. "Yes. Logan and Drake are both used to me vanishing for durations by now."

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-11 06:13 am UTC (link)

The Batman remark had Jacques snickering and the Opera Ghost added to the mix had him on the ground laughing. He'd really needed that and he had to remove his helmet. His control over his powers was always easier when Laura was around.

"I am certain I should be. The longer the clones are allowed to strengthen the worse this situation becomes. The one I sensed can already Phase Step with thirty percent of my skill. It's also learned how to cloak, but it's still imperfect in the use of the Shroud. I'd wager that aside from me you have the best chance against it." There was a loud sound almost like an airhorn and it startled Jacques who jumped into a tree like a startled cat and he latched onto the tree's trunk with his claws.

By the time he realized what happened it hadn't occurred to him that he had another set of claws in his feet very similar to Laura's albeit black and glossy like his other claws and his entire skeleton. When he realized how he was stuck he yelled down "Laura? When the hell did I get claws in my feet?" He got his foot blades free and before getting the arm blades unstuck forgot that nothing would be anchoring him as he fell flat on his back with a heavy thud.

"I don't remember having those before. Most peculiar" He wiped the sap from the tree off his claws and sterilized them to get rid of the maple smell before they retracted with a snikt sound.

"I'd rather not smell like a plate of pancakes. Besides, gunking up the sheathes could take months to fix. On a serious note though, make sure to bring Requiem because it will provide you protection from any spirit based attacks they may have. My Third Waltz is harmless to you since you have Requiem, the Third Waltz is how I defeated Juggernaut. My light rain, Seraphic Ray however would still be potentially lethal. It took me a decade to master that technique so they cannot possibly have anything more than ten projectiles."

"A word of advice, Seraphic Ray leaves whoever is using it open to melee attack because it's a channeled power and requires all of the users attention. Also, the Seraphic Ray always fires in volleys containing an even number of beams and always in an even number of volleys. Mine is actually four simultaneous volleys of up to twenty five thousand beams. If you can see how many volleys and how many beams are in the first volley, you can use that knowledge to time it and close in for the kill after the beams are fired. The Seraphic Ray cannot follow targets and is akin to an artillery strike of mortar fire. It's aimed and once fired the beams rain like unguided missiles or arrows. If you kill the user while the beams are raining, they fizzle and become harmless. They look like stardust when that happens and it's actually a pretty sight."

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-13 09:50 pm UTC (link)

"No, it doesn't sound like there is much time before it becomes worse." The Facility had succeeded in making clones of Jacques and now he wanted her to help kill him or her. "But in your condition, your control, it is going to be a challenge.

"Perhaps you are capable of copying others abilities," she suggested and looked at his foot claws. She had never worried about cleaning her blades, her body just overrode the blood poisoning and infections. "You have all of mine, both sets of claws, the metal and the regeneration, as well as your swordmanship, the weapons and all of the magic based attacks at your disposal. And then there's the other in you, which lends you access to yet more power."

She turned and headed to the mansion, nodding. Carrying around pieces of other people's souls wasn't something she was comfortable with, and had stored the dormant sword in Xavier's safe. "Then I suppose I will need to collect the Requiem if I hope to survive this encounter."

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-14 12:53 am UTC (link)

"I tracked a facility at Niagara Falls." He'd been unable to figure out how many there were from his spiritual senses because they were clones of him, who is difficult for demons to locate and pinpoint. "I will have to resort to not using spirit attacks. Sticking to basic fighting puts the least amount of strain on me."

He looked at his feet and said "Or I'm just an idiot who didn't know he had foot claws and found them by accident." He chuckled and said "I need to get used to fighting without relying so much on my other powers."

"I believe Requiem will be important. Besides, if I have problems you won't have any trouble with me. If something happens and I go out of control, if necessary, make certain I do not get back up." He readied to leave but waited for Laura before he left the school grounds.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-14 01:51 am UTC (link)

Niagara. It at least wasn't going to be a long journey before the fighting started. She shook her head, crossing her arms as she considered. "You have lived how long, Jacques. Seeing as it is painful to use mine, it's unlikely this is a dormant ability of you that you haven't noticed."

"Doubtful. We were barely equal when we met, by now it would be impossible without severe fire power for me to stall you, at most. My statistical chances against a lesser version are only slightly better." She left and ran back into the mansion. She picked up her flak armor and the sword, leaving a note of where to look if they didn't come back.

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-14 04:17 am UTC (link)

"I was wondering if after the adamantium grafts if they botched the operation at my feet because I'd sometimes had pain in my feet. Now I know why. I'd had adamantine claws in my feet centuries ago but they were yanked out. How could they have grafted me with new claws?" He'd had a quarter inch of claw still beneath his skin he was unaware of. Back then they were nothing more than internal climbing tools as they were hooked specially for climbing and not true claws.

"You're more powerful than you think. If I'm deprived of my vials and my pistols, you would win without question. I saw what you did to Creed, I'd be tied to a tree just the same. My Shroud doesn't make me any more dangerous because you know my smell. You also have had physical contact with me which means most of my attacks you have already seen."

Once she was ready he'd jump over the high fence and waited for her on the other side he took off towards the falls, not knowing that four clones were waiting for him. Three male and one female. They were hiding for an ambush when he arrived and he called out "I know you are here. Stop hiding and come out and face me with honor." They suddenly appeared, two males with swords drawn to Jacques throat from opposite angles and the other male searching for another person he could smell. The female had already left after telling the three male clones to kill him so they could be done.

Jacques answered the swords to his throat with "Oh dear. Whatever will I do?" And with a smirk and a snikt his claws extended and he started fighting both clones back. The other drew a sword and called Laura out.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-14 04:52 am UTC (link)

She came forward from the shadows, claws retracted and hands out in assertive but calming posture. "Wait." Being cautious and alert, she was careful to approach only until the man's grip on the hilt tightened. There were three, there was another not accounted for and two had Jacques's neck scissored in their blades. Looks like someone was already hunting them before they could start the hunt.

"I know you are not allowed to deviate from your commands," Laura spoke slowly, looking the other circling for her in the eye. They had to understand spoken word to be given orders, even this young. "But there is no gain for you for killing him. There will be no reward beyond being allowed to live. Abandon this mission and leave the Facility."

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-14 05:30 am UTC (link)

The two that were fighting Jacques both hit him with a First Waltz and knocked him back against a wall and than ran at him as he righted himself. Jacques hurried and readied a vial and created a wall of stone between them and him that allowed him time to get away but another female caught him on his blind side and Jacques said "Wha-" before being put through a building and having all three of them attacking him. He jumped through a hole in the roof before taking a Seraphic Ray to the chest. The two male clones grabbed him and body slammed the swordsman to the ground. One declared that the Facility knew all his techniques from satellite observation. As Jacques tried to get up the female stabbed him through his chest, a move that caused him to scream like a death cry.

The female brought up a sword and was about to finish Jacques with the Third Waltz and it looked like it hit him with a blinding flash of light.

When the smoke cleared Jacques was on his knee, only he looked like something else. The Fallen had broken free and had the female clones sword caught with its bare hand. A ghastly creature with the features of a monster from the nightmares of the swordsman.

The female demanded to know what Jacques had become, but the Fallen snarled and roared with a loud high pitched scream that shattered glass for almost half a mile. Than it extended it's claws and savagely attacked the female clone and ripped her apart before turning it's hateful gaze to everyone else around it. Laura caused it to back away as if it was afraid of her. The Requiem charm was glowing bright and the Fallen was clearly forced into submission by it. The two remaining male clones that were still facing him tried to use First Waltz but they missed as the monster dropped to it's knees and dug it's claws into the ground before opening it's mouth and firing a huge beam that incinerated one completely and left the other fleeing.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-15 12:57 am UTC (link)

Laura sighed for a moment as the clones lashed out against Jacques, she had at least tried. Her claws slid out and she headed for the nearest one, they judged her as unimportant in their fight and that was their first flaw. Always aware and always suspect even the rocks of trying to kill you. They were rushed and poorly trained for all of Jacques' unlimited abilities and powers for them to fall back on.

She didn't get much into an actual fight because there was a dark and cold sensation that wrapped around the area as Jacques was cornered. even she could sense how wrong it was and how it wasn't suppose to be on this plane, but training ingrained in her to not react to such things. Yet another contestant capable of killing her, and quickly judging from the fallen clone. The charm burned against her skin, not hurting her but reacting strongly to the Fallen's presence.

She ran for the retreating clone, trying to get to it before the thing ripped it apart. Faster than both, she was capable of bringing and tackling her prey to the ground, holding him in place by pinning him with her claws out. "Mine are worse than yours, so stop this."

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-15 02:38 am UTC (link)

An attack helicopter flew overhead and opened fire on both Laura and the creature controlling Jacques. It moved in front of Laura with its arms wide open and its claws still extended to shield her until she could move. As bullets hit the creature it gritted its teeth and hissed but it wasn't bring torn apart. There was still enough of Jacques to protect her. The clones were all paying attention to her and the Fallen diverted its attention to the helicopter.

The beast climbed a building and as the chopper made a second attack run, it jumped off the building and latched onto the outside of the choppers cockpit and started tearing panels and components apart with long razor sharp fingernails. The pilot shot it in the face three times with a pistol but only succeeded in pissing the monster off. It smiled maliciously and from the gaps between its fangs the red light could be seen even from the ground. It fired the beam from its mouth once again, although this one was narrower and not as overwhelmingly strong as the last one. The helicopter caught fire and began to plummet with the Fallen still slashing at the front of the craft. It hit the ground nose first but the creature jumped off at the last minute and spiraled to the earth at Laura's feet enclosed in white bonelike wings that wrapped it up like a lotus.

The clones all tried to flee but were still at Laura's mercy. The Fallen was still and silent at the moment and the quiet was eerie as the creature opened its wings and they tucked back and retracted. It remained kneeling silently and its attacks ceased. It was sensing for other opponents and was finding Facility troops, yet it didn't go after them. It walked slowly to Laura and pointed north to say more enemies were coming.

In the swordsmans voice it asked "Where do we go from here?" Jacques had managed to tame the beast, but the price the mutant paid was uncertain.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-15 03:11 am UTC (link)

Laura saw the chopper swerve around and only had time to cover the tackled clone's head and chest when the sound of the automatic guns went off. She could smell the discharge and heard the pak-pak of the bullets, but none hit her or around her. She looked up in confused surprise at the back of the Fallen before he launched himself at the helicopter. It didn't take long for him to rip the chopper apart and take it down.

She cautiously got back up, looking around and scenting the air as she crouched next to the one still lying on the ground. The other had gotten away but this one tried to slink away. "You will cease," she commanded him, wishing she knew the arrest code they had been trained with. "You will stop your attack on the target."

When the Fallen swooped at her, she coiled defensively, ready for the upcoming attack and eying it as it inched closer to her. When it didn't attack, pointing up north, she had to consider. "Niagara Falls is where the source of all trouble of this is."

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-15 05:49 am UTC (link)

"Démissionner." The Fallen spoke in French the command word for stand down with a quiet almost whisper voice. The clones stood down as the command word was spoken, the same word Jacques adhered to when under anothers command.

The creature said "They come." The sound of helicopters and dogs could be heard. It looked at her saying "Orders..." It retracted its claws and waited for Laura to advise a course of action.

Its mask began to crack. The Fallen didn't have long to fight, five minutes at the most before it was gone and Jacques was back to himself.

"I... Break soon. He will be... tired..." As dogs came the Fallen roared at them as one attacked him only to be backhanded dead on the ground. As soldies closed on them the creature said "Redemption... Run... I... stall... You... live...He will be angry... if you cease..." By cease it meant die. It would stall for her to escape and it caused black rain that was sizzling on the ground.

The soldiers that were caught in the rain were taking damage from the Black Rain and the Fallen turned to leave with Laura. Halfway back to the mansion the Fallen fell apart like ceramic, leaving Jacques behind still alive and uninjured but winded. He was able to move wasn't anywhere near as drained as one would think. He channeled enough energy to mend his costume back to how it was before he'd fallen. His helmet however was going to need to be rebuilt.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-16 04:03 am UTC (link)

"We don't have time then," she declared and motioned for him, it, to follow her back. It would have been nice to send it out to level the playing field but it was starting to fall apart. Laura approached the hulking and lanky thing cautiously, not crazy about getting within reach of the claws.

She didn't like the way the others were flanking the two, she couldn't do much without guns or out of reach. "I can't run, not far. Jacques will be defenseless once you retreat." She did continue to fall back, taking out the soldiers crying out in pain from the rain. Apparently the charm did protect her from this magic stuff.

The Fallen collapsed and left Jacques stumbling forward. Laura ran forward and put him in a fireman's carry, scooping up the mostly whole mask as she stood up. "You and your fussiness on clothes," she grunted, turning heel and making it for the fence.

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-16 06:28 am UTC (link)

As he fell into her arms he said "I'm just stubborn, I suppose." He relaxed into her hold and noticed Laura picking up the mask fragments.

When she touched the pieces the mask whispered "Take care of him. If he dies that's a big problem to me. He talked me into yielded, but his special techniques were what I demanded in return for my promise to leave you alone. So take care of him, all his powers will be mine... eventually."

Jacques asked Laura "What did I miss? Looks like you did a number on them." He honestly thought Laura thrashed everyone like Bruce Lee or something crazy epic like that.

It was somewhat windy and leaves were blowing from the trees. Jacques saw distant lightning flashes and could hear the rumbles of thunder and he just relaxed into her arms and said "It's a beautiful night. Nights like this are what I missed most about home. It looks like its going to blow over. But either way its a good thing I'm stubborn about not being basically naked. It's slightly chilly. I'm sure Creed is freezing in his terribly tacky polyester and fur." Jacques drew a picture that when they had stopped of Sabertooth with a mullet and Elton John glasses. He handed it to her and chuckled. He'd drawn a handlebar mustache and said "This is why I'm thankful I missed the 1980s."

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-17 02:23 am UTC (link)

"That was known long before this stint." Laura blinked, then eyed her hand and the contents. Now there was broken masks talking to her, after demons, balls of light and the power of the universe inhabiting her, why not a broken piece of porcelain talking?

She shook her head and kept going. "None of this was me. The Fallen came out and did all of this, black rain too to take out the soldiers out of reach. Four clones, a squad and a helicopter, more but they retreated."

There was a loud huff under his body. Now was not the time to be waxing poetic about the sky and the landscape like some warrior-poet from the old legends. Though truthfully, Laura could look at the same thing and not see any of what artistic people described. She looked over at the picture and shook her head, Creed was the last thing she wanted to be thinking of right now. "Do you have your healing vial on you?"

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-17 03:13 am UTC (link)

Jacques didn't look surprised by the Fallen's intervention. "I see. Than it is a good thing you brought the Requiem." As, he had somewhat zoned out after he snapped out of it he said "Yes I still have it. Are you hurt?" The wounds he'd taken were already healing, thankfully the Fallen had taken the brunt of it.

"I'm still disoriented so I'll need you to pour out the vials contents in order to make use of it. Can you set me down please?" With the fatigue setting in, Jacques would require himself kneeling with a claw holding himself up in order to cast his spell. Once in that position he started glowing a light blue, same as last time he channeled a healing spell for them. Winds started whistling through the trees and the air around the swordsman suddenly became unseasonably warm as he prepared the spell. When he heard the chiming of a tiny silver bell he was ready to cast the spell.

"Renew thy strength and take up thy blade, O worn and weary soul. While Waltz Three, Evanescent Light." The healing art he'd used a few months ago was an area spell. This one was much stronger, but could only heal three people at the maximum. It was enough to heal him and Laura if she'd taken damage. The excess energy that hadn't healed anyone was wasted and could not be stored or saved for later. This spell had stabilized a dying man and saved that mans life. Once someone was right at deaths door, Jacques could not save them and he could not bring back the dead.

As he waited for his body to finish healing he said "Would you prefer me not to be clothed?" He teased innocently as he was trying to make her feel better, to lighten her mood. Even after he'd been cloned and with all the crazy shit raining down, Laura always made him feel better and put his mind and heart at ease. Jacques always felt he'd be alright when she was near.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-17 08:56 pm UTC (link)

"He's going to eat you. Is eating away at you."

Laura put him back down and then steered him from stumbling and falling over while he fumbled through to healing himself. She felt something roll over her skin and relied on her training to stand still and not cringe or react to its presence. She hadn't been hurt at all and even so her own regeneration would have fixed herself just fine.

She lifted an eyebrow and looked at him dryly as he teased, deadpan being Laura's strongest expression. "I doubt it. It's November and there's a hard frost at night." She crouched, back braced against a nearby tree and waited. There wasn't much noise around them, meaning the troops didn't follow and she watched patiently. "What next?"

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-17 11:24 pm UTC (link)

"I know. I've kept it at bay for a little over three hundred years. I don't know what to do about it." He sat down and checked his ammunition and finished healing.

"I was alright. I thought you were injured." He heard no hurried footsteps but he didn't let his guard down. "Good. It's too cold for either of us to not have clothes."

"If I was sure I wouldn't get stabbed again, I'd say let's hit them again. That's the last thing I'd expect us to do and with you carrying me off I doubt they'd expect both of us to come back for round two." He saw his helmet in the distance and said "Oh, that's where it went." He phase stepped and put his helmet back on and then returned to Laura as quickly as he left.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-19 10:27 pm UTC (link)

She scowled at the information. So there was a malignant sentience growing in a vessel of great power and it was getting stronger. Great. "You collapsed from the transition, you were not 'alright'," she pointed out and tipped her chin up faintly. "They won't come near, now that they've seen what you become, there's hesitance. And fear."

"We should head for the Facility center, cut the problem off at the source." She watched him flitter about to collect his outfit. Another reason being over-dressed was a hindrance. "Only if you know you are capable of the journey and task. I can't be carrying you around everywhere." She lifted her eyebrow pointedly at her meaning.

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-20 09:45 pm UTC (link)

Jacques for once in his life didn't know what to do and that uncertainty beneath the surface scared his more than he would admit.

"I just had the wind knocked out of me. I promise that's all it was." He knew he was fickle but he also didn't want to leave evidence that they'd been there. "I apologize if I frightened you Laura." was all he said as he readied for the trip.

"I won't be a burden. The weak have no place in combat. If I am not strong enough than I am useless, a weapon with no purpose is of no value and should be discarded." He stood there for a moment before saying "Let's just get this over with." He'd follow her as he wasn't his usual razor sharp self. He would collect his thoughts on the way to hit the facility again.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-20 10:42 pm UTC (link)

She scowled and shook her head, that wasn't what she meant at all. "Not what I was saying. And again you have a dozen powers and skills, and centuries of experience, how, precisely, are you the weak?" She crossed her arms as well. "And would the Facility be so interested in your capabilities if that analysis was true?"

"Besides, what chances does the cheap knockoff of Logan have alone against your copies," she pointed out and turned. It looked like they were going to need to 'borrow' someone's car to get the Facility, and Drake's Jeep seemed the best option to get there and off road easily.

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ghostofthedales
2011-11-22 06:55 pm UTC (link)

"It's alright. I know that's not what you meant. You are a very literal person, if you mean something than you say it and the way you say something is how you intend it. I guess I was just being unjust to myself."

Jacques stopped in mid step and said "You aren't a cheap knockoff. Logan's legacy and destiny are not your own." He turned to face her and removed his helmet holding out his hand. "You are your own thinking, feeling, and living person, a joy to be around, and honestly you're the only reason I haven't given up on life. You are my best friend and with everything that has taken place you are all I have."

"Please don't sell yourself short. You are more incredible than you know." Jacques was looking for transport but it seemed Laura already had something in mind. Drake made the swordsman nervous because part of him suspected the man to be a double agent and part of Jacques was worried that Laura would get hurt. If that happened, the man would have an irate and mentally unstable X-24 after him, and if Laura got hurt Jacques would unleash the beast within with no second though.

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lilsoldiergirl
2011-11-23 04:05 am UTC (link)

"Precisely. You of all the fighters here shouldn't stoop to that kind of doubt of yourself." She watched him come up short, came up to his side with a noncommittal shrug. Like she had never been called worse than that before. "Clones are simply cheap knock-offs as you said earlier and I am not even a true copy of him. In this comparison, the only difference between their situation and mine is your accumulated fondness for me."

She shrugged again. "Even with your affection for me, you have to admit pointing out I only have claws against your clones with more powers than that is practical, not selling myself short. This is why we shouldn't do this if you aren't ready, it gives them too much of an advantage. We can't lose you."

Rummaging around the Jeep, Laura finally resigned to sticking her head under the driving column and pulling out a few wires to start the car. She looked over as Jacques uncomfortable hesitance and lifted her eyebrows mildly. "What's the worst he can do to us if we lose his car?" she reassured and tried to coax the swordsman into the ride. "Toss us a few miles away? We'll get up and come right back and then he'll be jumpy around us for weeks."

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