Spider-Man: Duty and Loss Chapter 48: Stress

A small tendril of thought wormed its way through the air. It slipped unnoticed by everyone in the room before settling in the mind of Laura. She was strung out and under pressure. In her addled and volatile state she didn't notice the small thought that slowly settled on her mind.

Storm who was still in control of the room spoke up first. "Ok we'll do whatever you want. Just please don't hurt Katherine." Laura gave a small nod at the words and shook her head to clear her thoughts. If she was more attentive she might have noticed that her blurred vision wasn't normal.

"OK. Move over to that side of the room, and if I see anyone do anything funny I will kill her where she stands. Do you understand?" Storm gave a small nod, but that wasn't enough to the emotional woman. "I said do you understand!" Gambits fingers twitched at the shouting, which didn't go unnoticed.

Laura's eyes snapped in his direction as if daring him to do it. She pressed ever so more on Kitty's neck and a small trail of blood rolled down a fresh cut that appeared. "Yes we understand!" Storm gave Gambit a death glare, and Hank quickly pulled him to the side.

As everyone moved to one side of the room, Laura walked slowly towards the door. Storm had seen a lot in her life. She had grown up in the slums of Africa before being found by the professor and had to steal frequently. She had joined gangs, betrayed people in her youth. She had done many things she wasn't proud of.

So it was with certainty that she could see the look in Laura's eyes. The look of a young woman that had gone through too much, seen things no one her age should have. Yes many that were mutants had to deal with racism and bigotry, but this was a whole different level.

A piece of Storm's heart went out for the woman as she saw the frightened look in her eyes. The eyes that trusted no one, the look of someone who was afraid to trust another person. As she watched her move closer and closer, to the door, she had to speak, try and explain to the girl that they meant no harm.

"Wait before you leave….I'm sorry we never asked for your name." Storm talked gently to Laura as she went to leave. Laura stopped for a second to look at the silver haired woman's speak. The concern in the woman's eyes was something she hadn't seen since she met Peter, and before that maybe only her mother.

She didn't know what compelled her to tell them her name, but something in the back of her mind made her speak up. "My name's Laura." Her voice was gruff and tired from the day's events, but it got across to them.

Storm gave a small reassuring smile, as she got a response, it was better than nothing. "Before you go Laura, I just wanted you to know. We truly just want to help you." Maybe if she had said something else Laura wouldn't have exploded at her comment or maybe if Laura wasn't under so much stress, feeling her emotions run wild.

But when Laura heard those words, she snapped. "STOP LYING!!!" She screamed in frustration as she pointed her claw hand towards Logan. "You want to help me! EVEN WHEN HE'S HERE!"

Everyone was shocked at her outburst and stood still as she went on a small rant. "If Howlett is here." She took a deep breath "If Weapon X is here! Then that means you want to experiment on me! Control me! Take away my freedom! You want to turn me into a weapon just like him! To kill more of those close to me! To do more dirty work! I want out, I have lost enough! I will control my own future! You abduct me! Drug me! Cuff me! Attack me! Don't lie to me!!!"

Laura panted as she felt strength drain from her body, but held on tight to Kitty. Logan who just bore the brunt of her scream didn't react outwardly, but on the inside his thoughts were set alight. She, Laura, knew who he was.

He had heard himself referred to before as Weapon X, but he never knew the context. What she had just said told him that she knew about his past, 'Was his last name Howlett?' He wanted, no he needed to know. He couldn't let her escape, but there was one thing bothering him.

His gruff voice sounded out in the quiet after the outburst. "But am I not your father?" It was a conjecture from the professor, and it had stuck in Logan's mind since he had been told. He had gone through a lot in the memories he still had, but he hoped that out of his mysterious past he hadn't estranged himself from his daughter to such a degree, that she hated his guts.

If that's what she truly was, it was the closest thing he had to family. Those around him gave shocked looks as they heard his words. He or the professor hadn't mentioned that Laura might possibly be Logan's daughter. Sure they had the same abilities, but it could have been a coincidence.

Laura looked at him dumbstruck for a moment after hearing his words. Thoughts and memories passed through her mind, as they drifted to the one woman that treated her like a daughter, the woman who she had killed.

Her eyes turned red as she looked at him. Logan suppressed a flinch as he saw the hate in the eyes of his supposed daughter. Her body trembled in rage as she gritted her teeth, finally after a few seconds she exploded in laughter.

The laughter could have sent a chill down anyone's spine and the tears running down her face made everyone in the room feel a small amount of pain. "You cause this. You caused my pain my suffering. I wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for you. You aren't my father! This is all your fault. This is all your Fault!"

Laura's shaking slowly started to stop her body losing its strength. And before long she fell to the ground. Kitty phased out of her grip so that no harm could be done. Xavier rolled slowly into the room, taking his hand down from his temple.

Looking down at the unconscious woman for a few seconds her turned to Hank. "Hank would you kindly go and place her in one of the rooms to rest. I think we should try talking again at another time." Hank gave a small nod before moving to pick her up.

"Logan a word." Charles spoke as he left the room. Logan gave a small nod as his eyes didn't leave the body of Laura. His mind was trying to process everything she had said. He now had more questions than when he started. Storm watched him leave with a concerned expression before walking out herself. She also had a few things to think about after this incident. After a few minutes the room was empty.

Chapter end