Everything For a Price (Akwa Vs Talon/X-23) RPG

Agent Howlett fidgeted while he sat behind his desk. His job was on the line. Experiment-23 had gotten out of control and now the rest of HYDRA was looking at him to bring her down. He had sent elite teams of highly trained HYDRA personnel to get her but they all ended up dead.
He had to face facts. The experiment was too powerful for normal humans to take down. The phrase, Set a thief to catch a thief sprang to mind. So he had hired a mercenary. A meta-human mercenary to be precise. This merc had always kept a low profile but it was known that he was no above a spot of bounty-hunting. Far from it.

He shifted slightly as his HYDRA guards escorted the man in. The merc wore a metal mask and appeared to be clothed in some sort of ninja costume. He was also wet. Water was constantly dripping off him and ruining the carpet.

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Akwa looked at the man who was interested in hiring his services.
'Whats up?'
'I am Agent Howlett,' the man said in lieu of a greeting. 'I represent a government group known as HYDRA. We-'
'I know what you do,' Akwa interrupted. He didn't really. All he knew of HYDRA was what Talon had told him. She had not painted a very flattering picture.

'One of our "experiments" is rogue. In fact, she has been rogue for some time and has resisted all attempts to re-capture her. We have decided that she poses too great a risk to the secrecy of our operation and must be eliminated.'

Akwa nodded. 'And you want me to do it,' he stated. Something seemed wrong here. HYDRA wanted him to track down a rogue female experiment. Rogue female experiment...Why did that sound familiar?

Agent Howlett handed him a photo. 'This is the one. I also have records of her powers, her weaknesses and her last known location. I must warn you though. She currently has in her possession a dangerous sword-like artifact which is known as-'

'The Sword of Geminie,' Akwa interrupted him again. 'I know this girl. She is a member of my team and a friend. I would never fight against her on your behalf.'

Agent Howlett named the price he was willing to pay.

Akwa blinked, a mental calculator figuring out how much stuff he could buy with that amount.

'Deal,' he said without hesitation. 'But I get half of the money up-front.'

'A third up-front.'

'Sure. I'll just go now,' Akwa said as he stood up. 'I don't need the information about her powers. I already know.'

With those words he walked out.

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Later, back in his apartment, Akwa was trying to figure out he should kill one of his friends for the cash-reward. He realised that he had no idea where she was. Crap.

Hang on, Akwa thought. I have a plan. She doesn't know I plan to kill her. So she would still trust me.

He picked up his Wolf-Pack communicator and set it so it delivered the message to Talon but nobody else.

'Hey Talon? It's me Akwa. Can you come over to my apartment for a moment. I need your help with something.'

Devious. Simply devious. He had just said that he needed her help. She would come over simply so she could rub his face in it later. She wouldn't even know what hit her...

“So who are they?” Talon was sitting out side of the institute. When ever she was not on any assignment she would stay here and just sit thinking…..about what no body new but what ever she thought about here she would think of it often. “Hello sis?” It was not every day she would just sit out here most of the time she could never risk being so out in the open incase HYDRA was near by. “Um earth to Laura?” That was why she liked and could work with the Wolf Pack. She would not be endangering any of their lives for each member was skilled and HYDRA would not dare try to locate the Wolf Pack for that would be a fatal mistake that many have made.

“Laura Kinney!!” Now looking back to that day she joined the pack it made her feel something that she had never felt before. She was strangely happy. Now if being part of a team that will do what every it takes to kept the job done, kill all in their path, go under the radar and even do things that others would not have the courage or could not possibly go against if that made Talon happy then you could tell that she was a disturbed young girl “X@!23%$”. Talon soon snapped out of her day dream and turned her attention on the Russian young woman that was looming over her. Her bright blue eyes glaring down at her sister who was obvious annoyed to a point of no return.

“Yes” she said innocently like a little girl who had just been day dreaming about her price charming. Hearing Talons reply to her harsh words made her even more enraged. “What are you doing” she growled revealing her sharp white teeth that could at any moment bit into Talons arm and rip it off. Talon her voice and gazing unchanging answered softly “Nothing Sabre”. Sabre sighed and slouched next to her sister on the step bearing her face in her hands. “What is your dilemma” she asked again. Getting back to her feet Saber looked down at her sister and said “You, how long did you think you could keep this thing up huh?” looking at her sister innocently she answered “what is your dilemma Sabre”.

“Alright fine you want to be that way go ahead!” Sabre insisted and stormed off. “Any way I guess that you don’t care you have a price tag on your head.” Pausing a moment Talon though “Price Tag…..Sabre wait” she called running after her. Her sister slowed and turned around obviously knowing that she had gotten her sisters attention. Staring into her emerald eyes Saber continued “A Price my dear sister, HYDRA’s looking for you again and they have a price for who ever gets you.” Talon could tell her sister was not making things up and asked “How do you know?”. Sabre grinned slyly. “Sis I got connection just be carful” “So I guess this means I got to run again huh” “Not if you don’t want to sis you can stay we can protect you”. Shaking her head Talon grinned painfully “No…..I need to go just keep things on control while I’m gone..ok” Tilting her head slightly Saber answered “Sure thing sis good bye”.

After clearing the institute she received a message from one of the most unexpected people she could have ever thought “Hey Talon? It's me Akwa. Can you come over to my apartment for a moment. I need your help with something.” Option one he was doing the one trick trying to get her in bed. If that was the case he would come to a very swift and painful end and if Hunter asked she would say it was an accident though there was always the possibility of him actually wanting her help. Though she could not imagine what he could want beside something sexual she had to abide by his wishes. She new from her last encounter with Akwa that it was very possible he wanted to mate with her though she dought him to do so. “What am I doing!” she scolded herself for even thinking about what Akwa’s intentions to be any other than sexual. “He probably would want my assistance for something”. So pushing her assumptions aside she when to Akwa’s apartment. It was all she thought is would be though she would not say any thing.

The one thing that Talon was not was conventional only to those who knew her style and her style was stealth. If Akwa was in some sort of danger she would aid him but knowing not what his predicament was she thought entering through the main entrance would be very predictable. So unleashing her claws she began to scale the wall of his building. Blood dripped from her knuckles as her claws punctured the wall.  Eventual she reached his window and peered through. There was no one that she could see and the window was unlogged. “Obviously Akwa knows more about my methods than I perceived.” Entering through the window she was silence fro a moment then spoke

“I have arrived Akwa just as you wished, what is the issue at hand.”
 

Akwa sat in his apartment while he waited for Talon to show up. He looked at the cash that agent from HYDRA had paid him up-front. It was a lot. And it was just a third of what he would get once Talon was out of the way.

He had thought out several plans on what to do when Talon arrived but in the end, he had decided that he would just shoot her. Several times. With armour-piercing bullets. He was pretty sure that her regeneration ability was not strong enough to save her from that. Of course, if that didn't work he would just have to kill her the old-fashioned way.

He didn't need a gun really. His powers were much more powerful than any gun. But he still had a gun. He had just bought it and he hadn't even touched it once yet so his Tech-Jinx had not affected it. I guess I'm just fond of guns he thought. He usually had a gun when he was bounty-hunting. The reason was that if they saw him with a gun they would assume that he was just a normal human. And underestimating him usually was the last thing they ever did.

He was about to continue his musings about firearms when his head jerked up. Talon was outside the apartment block. He had sensed her with his Water-Sense. Beforehand, he had caused it to rain over his part of the city so his Water-Sense could pick up everyone who was out on the streets nearby. Since the rain was touching her skin he was able to pick up a few fragments of her thoughts.

He grinned. She suspected that he had called her here for an ulterior motive. But she could not have gotten it more wrong. She thought he was trying to lure her into his bedroom! He almost laughed. Just because he had made the mistake of openly admiring her curves on their last mission didn't mean he wanted to sleep with her! Actually he did but he would never be stupid enough to try and pull a stunt like this for sex. He grimaced as he was reminded of the fact that ever since he acquired his powers, there were very few women who would want to sleep with him anyway.


Face it, he thought. What woman would want to sleep with a man who was always cold and dripping wet? Not to mention the fact that I turn into a puddle of water when I go to sleep and that would be embarrasing.

She was climbing the wall. Just as he expected. During the last mission, he had taken the time to study more about her than her physical attributes. He knew the way she went around things. She was always stealthy and quiet where Akwa was direct and loud. To say they had their differences would be an understatement. Quickly, he got up and liquified. His liquid form flattened itself into a puddle and hid under the couch. When she looked through the windown, she would not see him here. If all went to plan, she would never see him before it was too late.

She vaulted through the open window and onto the floor. Good, she had no idea.

“I have arrived Akwa just as you wished, what is the issue at hand.”

Akwa reformed under the couch, causing it to go flying as he stood up. He grabbed the rifle that had been next to the couch and fired at her three times. He then jumped back to put some distance between them in case she had survived. He thought about what to say. If she was still alive he should say something that would distract her.

'I am afraid to tell you Talon that your position in the Pack has been terminated. Hunter knows you're too much of a loose cannon. You're nothing but a clone. An abomination and you're no longer welcome. You're a threat to our secrecy and he's ordered us to kill you. Goodbye Talon."

He knew it had been the right thing to say. Talon was emotionally unstable at the best of times and was generally paranoid about how other people saw her. She had deep-seated issues about being a clone and the lie he had just fed her might keep her distracted for enough time to finish the kill. He grinned. After this, he was going to be rich.

 Soon there was a large noise and she soon saw Akwa emerge from under the couch. Undoubtedly using his water abilities. His movements were planned and swift. His grace as he remembered was fascinating. Many times Talon would always watch as people that she new had outstanding powers. Yes she had claws that came with a price: Her humanity. He did not even speak or hesitate. He seemed so cold so……so Icy. And as water he was very unpredictable to say the least. At that moment he reminded her of her past. Though it did not take her much to reopen that closed door. He appeared to have no feelings at that moment he appeared to be a cold hearted scoundrel Talon new it she felt it. Though she would as humans say look on the bright side when it came to her team mates there was no bright side in this situation with her and him.

He fired three bullets at her. She did not move the shock of what he of what her team mate was doing to her was something she could not understand. She was a girl with the mind of a weapon. It was hard for her to comprehend something so vulgar as betray as bartering over her like some common anima. But that is what she was an animal. Able to be taken by a price just like that. He did not wait her did not hesitate or look her in the eyes. He was a coward to do this to her to not confront her as like any one would have. But you trap her he would have to have been for then strong he would have had t be sly and that is what he proved her was in this situation sly. To lure her to his own home exploit her and take her out yes that’s whet he did she was an animal a common beast but the worst was only yet to come.

She fell to the floor the pain of the bullets seeming into her chest was frightfully painful. Yet she did not no what was worse to have been shot several times by a so called team mate or even……..should she dare say it……….a friend? Yes she considered each member of the Wolf Pack her friends. Weather she talked with them like Damnation Lee or just cared for them secretly like Hunter. Weather she worked together well with then like Thomas Lee, or just admired their skills, like Sylver, Risky and Lady Nightmare. But Akwa though new to the Pack she entrusted Hunters judgment on every one that he chose. She would die for any one of them but never expected to die from them yet here she was even though she new most of the Pack member would not think of her as what she thought of them she cared. As a child cares for another such child like personality Talon had. If you looked deep enough what you would find was not a weapon but a scared little girl locked away for the fear. But what fear the fear of exploitations of being tricked of being take down and thrown out but yet here she was wounded by what she thought of as……….yes he was……..but more never………..but only………..just a Friend.

'I am afraid to tell you Talon that your position in the Pack has been terminated.” Yes that was what she heard his way so cold so heartless yes those were the words .It  was all she wanted never to hear. Yes she new is could happen but to her no or did she. She could not understand did she do something wrong and if so why did Hunter not confront her about it like he would. She cared for Hunter more than any thing and even though she never dared to say it he was as if………no she could………no never how could she think of such things………..yes she did………he was something to her that no man ever was…………something that she always wanted………. A father.  Though she new he felt nothing for her and would do as he wished.

 “Hunter knows you're too much of a loose cannon.”Now she accepted these words as every thing else. Loose cannon was not exaggerating. She was worse. She did not abide she would go to every extent. Yes he was no doubt remembering what she did on the first mission. When she went against orders and left the hind out in the Desert. When she disobeyed him by going after Damnation in the Pyramid. And even after that he let her go but still she did not listen and did not remain at Sector 13 awaiting orders no. She went to look for her donor her true father and gladly was saved by her friend Damnation. Even after that after all of that she went with Damnation Lee to confront Apocalypse. Did she not think consequences would arise for what she had done. And it was only the first mission and still she went against orders. Did she think that he would push these things aside and not speak of then not tell her, her faults and punishment how stupid of her not to think. Of course he had all the right to do this. 

 “You're nothing but a clone. An abomination and you're no longer welcome.” Yes no doubt about it he was right. A clone a copy nothing more. Why should any one care for someone who was no one just nothing. How could she had thought that maybe, just maybe some one could care for her. Well she was wrong about all of this about every thing and no doubt was Hunter taking up his revenge on her there was no doubt in her mind that he wanted something and she could never give it. She was born not to follow orders she was a clone. And Obviously she had served her purpose on the Pack that Hunter wanted her to……….then why did she feel like……….. no it does not matter feelings or non he was right. Akwa was right and she believed herself to be that which could never be any thing only a clone. 

 “You're a threat to our secrecy and he's ordered us to kill you. Goodbye Talon." Us the words applied that not only Akwa but the rest of the Pack. They had agreed on her death after every thing she had……..no they were in the right she had done nothing for the Pack she was worthless a mere puppet with emotions that could just be played with he was right. Even if she was able to over come Akwa she would be pursued by not only HYDRA, SHIELD, The Government, Her family, Her lost Love, A vengeful enemy but by her friends….NO!!! Why did she call them that WHY!! She was messed up she truly was but that is what happens when since birth you are trained to kill on command. But not this time she would not Kill Akwa her friend……why did she call him that what was he to her why did she care for him for any one why could she not be like him heartless for that was who Akwa was who every one she met was they would hid behind a mask just as long as they could use her. Getting to her feet she looked at him. Her emerald eyes showing tears why where there. Reluctantly she unleashed her claws and whispered. “So be it”.
 

Akwa watched as his words took effect on her. He saw the shock and devastation on her face. From her expression, he knew that she believed him. She might even be crying.

She might look powerful and dominant on the outside, he thought. But inside, she's just a child. An easily manipulated child.


As he looked at her lying on the ground with a bullet wound in her chest, he felt a small feeling of pity. Why was he doing this? Surely she was worth more than any amount of money. Besides he would get kicked out of the Pack if he killed Talon. Hell, he'd get more than kicked out. He'd get grevious bodily harmed out. These feelings were quickly quashed and his mind was instead filled with hatred and contempt for this pathetic, snivelling human.

Woah, what? "Pathetic Snivelling Human?" When did I ever think things like that? I like humans. Some of my best friends are humans. Why am I thinking like that?What the hell is wrong with me? 

These thoughts were also quickly pushed aside. All traces of Akwa's doubt was purged away by an outside force. There was only one thing that mattered now.Kill the girl. Kill the competitor. Kill her now! roared the voice in Akwa's head. Akwa's eyes glowed underneath his mask as Talon slowly got up again with tears in her eyes.

There was a snikkt! sound as her claws slid out from her hands and she whisphered something.

'So be it.'

Akwa stepped back and threw his gun away. He twitched his fingers and a long, ornate spear of ice formed in his hands.

"Prepare to meet your death, human. You shall be the first."

With those words he lunged at her spinning his spear around and driving it towards her mid-section.

"Prepare” yes she needed to be ready. For dealing with a man like him with powers that he had she would definitely have to be ready. For one wrong move one out of timed move and it would be all over……….for him…..no her…….just stop. Talon new that battling a being with the power of one of the mighty elements was dangerous but she had an element……….no she could never………..it’s not safe Gemini is not ready………NO!!.............Talon is not ready to use it. But if he gave her no other choice she would have to use it. Fire and water yet water puts out fire…………no not all of the first…………there……….if hot enough evaporation. 

 “To meet your death” huh he speaks of death as if it is a bad thing………no not ever death was always her way out………she wanted to die. Just never like this not in the hands of her……no he’s not he’s nothing to her not any thing……….then why does she denial it so much……..he is something……..some one to her………..his safety is as much to her as his……….voice. He is her team mate………..but more each member is more than just a team mate……..h was something he is he was her friend. As long as he was under the category as friend Talon could not harm him she never hurt a friend but was he any thing more?

“human.” Oh no she was not. He was wrong. If only she was a mere mortal maybe things would have been a bit different. But no she was not……..was she…….no a mutant was her origin or so she kept telling herself…….she was more than thought to be. No one not even herself. Yet there was hatred in the word human. She despise them. What they did to her to her friend to her…..family scarred her for eternity. If she had her way this disease would be extinguished and never brought back yet it was not her choice. What was she doing she had to keep her mind on the battle on………him…….but why…..why him of every one he was the guy. Their first meeting should have shown something. She had saved him for Hyperion she was willing to become a Red Lantern yet he could not see it no!........all men where blind! They never could see any thing even when a woman cared……..yet she was a weapon and had no feelings. 

 “You shall be the first." First? What could he had meant there would be more. Would he kill more than just her out of pure pleasure what if this………no he would not………Yes he could. He was capable of killing all. Meaning that the human race was in danger of him…….but why was he such a threat to Talon why did she not fight…….If it was any one else on the wolf Pack she would not hesitate for there would be no time. There were only a few who she would not fight, Hunter, Damnation Lee, Thomas Lee Jamison……..and him…….the man that she could not understand why she did not kill him the moment they met for she wanted to. No did she? Was that wanted to do was that why she wanted to kill just because he was there? Or did she want to kill him for the way he made her feel……?

Then he formed a spear of ice and lunged it toward her with speed. Though she wanted to not move it was instinct and soon she unleashed her claws and placed then where the spear was to hit. The impact was hard though her claws were able to destroy it. Then looking at him she sighed. “Please I don’t want this to happen not with you of all people, I don’t know why but I don’t want you to do this.”

Akwa frowned as she moved her claws and blocked his spear. Not only that, but he had put so much force behind the spear that it shattered on contact with the admnatium.  She looked at him and sighed.

"“Please I don’t want this to happen not with you of all people, I don’t know why but I don’t want you to do this.”

I dont want to do this either he thought. Which begs the question, why am I doing this? You are doing this because I want you to do this,the voice thundered in his head. You cannot resist my will. Kill her!

Just who are you anyway and what the hell are you doing in my head? I don't recall inviting you here.

Youreally are a fool aren't you? Can't you guess? I've always been here.

Oh, I get it. You're one of those damn multiple personalities that the Fl-624 virus gives me aren't you? I hate you guys.

Bravo, give the man a prize. Bout time you figured it out.

Get out of my head right now! Don't make me call my therapist! She's trained to get rid of things like you!

You aren't calling anyone. In case you haven't noticed, I have complete control of your body right now and so you can just sit down and shut up.

With those thought-words, it cut Akwa out of the loop leaving him as nothing more than a viewer as the other Akwa controlled his body.

Akwa considered his surroundings. They were several stories up. He could tackle Talon and push both of them through the apartment wall and into the street below. He would survive the fall but she would probably be inconvenienced. Sounds like a plan.

He roared and he charged at her trying to grab hold of her and throw her through the wall.

"Let's see you survive this!"

Now Talon was no telepath or genius but she new inner conflict she new it well. One of the things she suffered from was a multipersonality disorder. X23 was one of them. But she was far more than just a personality she was a being. Yet Talon did not know much she could tell that what ever Akwa was going through was something of the sort. That gave her a bit of relief and a scene of peace. No………wait why did it give her peace?..........how could it he was nothing to her NOTHING!...........but if he truly was nothing why was she trying to convince herself that he was? Why did is easy her troubled heart that it was not Akwa committing the acts and some other being. Why did she care? Why did she
"Let's see” Oh yes lest see was the only thing he could use for he new not the power that Talon wielded for it he did he would have been wise not to have aroused the dormant soul with in. He did not know what would come from his new enemy….no she was not his enemy………was she no there was nothing between them………was there? Could there have been………no never had every Talon put her trust in her emotions and she could not start now………..but what if they were……….right?.............no it would not be she was emotionless she had no feelings for NO ONE!!!.........yes she did………she new she had………her friend her family……….her team……..they all meant the world to her and she would die for them Well here it was would die but not for them for……..him?

“ You” Meaning Talon herself no one other. What ever it was chose to unleash all its wrath on the girl and she was ready. Better her than any one else she though. Maybe just maybe she could keep this thing preoccupied long enough for the real Akwa……..her friend…….her……her ma--. NO! Nothing else mattered beside his safety so hurting him was out of the question at least she would not be the one hurting him. But she would she could hurt him, she had no feeling…….NO! Now was not the time  power like that should and would remain dormant with in her for the awakening of this soul was not needed it was to risky to risky indeed. Yet she had to wonder as to how she could help him. She new how hard it was being trapped with in your own body for Talon many a times was with X23, Shadow and Gemini all three not personality about beings powerful entity’s with in this little girls body.

 “Survive” Survival Talon was equipped with. She had lived her entire life on one this survival of the fittest. That was how she was raised back in the Facility able to take care of herself with out any help. Very dependant at an early age.  And she had not changed. She had lived through wars………oh yes great wars…..wars that destroyed her world she had fought……….desperately fought for the people she cared about. Doing the most crazy things for he littlest reasons. She would always be reckless in dire situations which always left the question: Where did her loyalties lye. As with the Wolf Pack many times she had gone against orders and done things with out any one of the Pack members and in that she was a loose cannon but in all cased no matter how dangerous she would survive. Though literally fire and Brimstone she would make it out with a few scratches and bruises but still alive and breathing. Though she had a feeling that this battle would be a much more harder one to win for her opponent was proceeded and he was her ma--. NO! He was he friend and nothing less but possibly more?

 “This!" meaning he was about to attack her. She could predict his moves just by hearing his words. She broke each word down each syllable and studied their meaning figuring out his intentions. Yes this was helpful but did not give her every thing that was going through that deep dark mind of his. His mind was like an ocean constantly raging against the rocks fighting and alive. A sea that if you dare enter you die just as she had………….or would. She new that it would be hard to get him back to the way he was so full of life, firstly little boy. Boy……….? Well she called all the immature men she met boys even though they would be much older than her. Though some times it was an insult and sometimes it meant something different…….

Then Akwa charged toward her with great force and pushed her threw a building. She icy wind blew through her black locks of hair. And for that moment she was on him again like before. When she leaped on him back in Japan here she was again clenching to him like life itself.  She stared into those clouded eyes of Akwa and had pity for him. Since they were so close she unleashed her claws and attempted to jab her claws into his shoulder not survierly wounding him. If she did maybe should could get through to him……..some how. He should not have had to deal with this not now of all times not……with…….her.

Time seemed to slow as she gazed at him her emerald eyes enticed with his. Soon she snapped out of it and soon realized that she would be reaching ground soon. So in with motion and with out thinking she summoned it………the thing she never wanted to………it was his only hope hers of getting him back to normal. So with the sword in her hand she teleported herself…..and Akwa. But why? She could have left him to fall but no she would not hurt him. So in the teleportation she and him both plummeted onto the roof of the building. Above them dark grey sky’s. Soon Talon retired her sword as it disappeared the moment the teleportation was over.

Akwa snarled as he and Talon went flying through the wall and into empty space.His momentum carried him several metres horizontally before gravity took effect and he began to plummet towards the street below. Talon was hanging on to him as she gazed into his eyes. For a moment he thought he saw a flicker of something there. Sympathy...Pity...

She knows!, Akwa crowed triumphantly inside his own head. You can take my body but you can't hide what you truly are!

The sympathy in her eyes seems to vanish as she jabs her claws into Akwa's shoulders. Akwa felt the rage and hatred well up inside him. It felt...odd. The feelings weren't his and so he felt strangely distanced from everything, locked inside his fleshy prison.

She dares! How dare she!! the voice roared.

With the strength of that thought in his head, Akwa realised what this personality was and where it had came from. All of his personalities were different facets of him, each representing a part of Akwa's mind. This personality, this thing was Akwa's primal urges, his animalistic instincts. Everyone had them. They were remnants of the past when men were animals and instincts ruled their lives. Man evolved and claimed it was now too civilised for such things but the primal instincts still hid in the sub-conscious of the human race. With Akwa's fractured mentality, the instincts had formed their own mind, both brutal and cunning. A very powerful mind that ripped through the thin veneer of humanity and civilisation and exposed the beast within, combining predatory instinct with a human's capacity to be cruel.

Hurtling through the air, Primal Akwa screamed it's rage at the creature that had wounded it. The creature was a competitor and competitor's had to be killed. Savagely, he gnashed his teeth and bit at her, attempting to dig into her flesh. He tasted blood.
 
Moments after this, an object appeared in the creature's hand. It was long and metallic. It looked vaguely familiar but Akwa couldn't remember. His memory was fading. It was the S..Sword of Something or Other. He had seen it before. He had been different back then. He couldn't remember how he had been different though. The memories were slipping through his fingers like sand through a...thingy. He couldn't remember what sand slipped through.

There was a flash and the surroundings changed. Instead of falling down towards a busy street, Akwa fell onto the top of the apartment block. He slowly got up and saw Talon nearby. He looked at his shoulder and found it unmarred. The wounds she had caused had sealed up. He glowered as he clenched his fist. Above his fist a a ball of water appeared. The water changed and morphed into a ball of ice that had sharp jagged spikes sticking it out of it. It hovered in the air.

"You'll pay for that, b!tch."

Several more ice balls formed until he was surrounding by a swarm of them. At his words they stopped hovering and flew at Talon, aiming for her face. While they flew in, several more went for her legs trying to catch he off-balance.

"You'll pay for that, b!tch." Akwa bellowed in ager and rage at her. Up till now she had mere doubts about her theory about this not being the true Akwa. She soon realized that he had bitten her shoulder…….deeply. She moved her hand to the wound and stared at it a moment. “Man it’s a good thing it’s not the full moon” she thought. For If it was it was her not him who would be acting feral. But it was funny Akwa and her had met on the night of the full moon. That’s why she was so…..so on to him all the time. Ravaging her hands through her hair she sighed thinking back to that amazing……….difficult night. It all happened so fast she had no time to asses what she felt for him. On the one had she had to deal with Hyperion and the other she had to deal with the Red Lantern rage.  

 But now she was convince as to something had taken over this intriguing young man……no just young man nothing more. Truthfully Akwa was not the only one struggling with in she had to keep her mind on the battle which most of the time was not that hard but now it seemed almost impossible.  Even from the first night she met his as he said she could never let go of him literally. She was always leaping onto him and placing her claws at his neck. Yes it was funny to think that her aggression toward him was not just feral but much deeper in the way he smelled.

Yes his scent was alluring to her she wanted it she craved it. The moment she got a lock of it she brooded over it. It was like a pheromone to her and that is why she hated being around him for the only reason that when she was she wanted him. He was a drug and she feared if she was to get to much of it she would become addicted if she was not already. Why did she truly come when Akwa called……….why? Because she wanted an excuse to see him to smell him with out if looking awkward. Not that she new why her feral scenes sparked when he was around but if she did she would have desperately put a stop to it. But she was an animal a creature that acted on instincts and instinct alone it was her nature to be this way to be a weapon a murderess beast and now she had to deal with it.

He then created multiple spiked balls of ice and sent then spiraling toward her. She did not bother to block them for she new what power she was dealing with she could not fight. He was to strong he controlled Water and Ice she had no hope fighting him like this not here the city was to large a place and if could be avoided she wished that this battle would not be know by any one especially any of the Wolf Pack members. She looked into Akwa’s now seeming to be black eyes and could feel emotions arise with in her that had long laid dormant. She was sorry for him sorry for every thing and for some strange reason felt like it was her fault her was going through this. Every thing seemed to be her fault now a day.  She wanted him back she wanted the cocky, childish, immature, big headed, self obsessed Akwa back.

So as the things hurled toward her she let them hit her. Standing her ground not quivering shaking nothing! She stood still and did not intend to fall. Her eyes were shut and her fits were clenched. Blood ran down her arms as the hard Ice thrashed against them. She had vowed to Hunter to the Pack to NEVER HURT ANY OF THEM! She was not about to withdraw her promise. Her arms were splinted with the jagged ice that had he had thrown toward her with great force. Though it pained immensely the wounds slowly healed after each puncture on her skin. Blood trickled down her brow and face. But her eyes remained fixed at him not looking away. “Your in there I know it!” she thought a moment.

But with each attack he did not notice that every time she was taking one more step toward him. Eventually she reached him and outstretched her scarred arm. She slightly touched his face as she swore a tear ran down her eye. “I……Akwa…….I……Know…… …….y………your…..in there”. Quickly retracting her hand she pulled away and leaped back. And looked at him. The emotion was gone the tear was long forgotten there words she denied and pushed behind her. She was Talon once again true the little girl broke through but soon retired back into hiding. For that moment a brie moment she was herself the little girl long kept dormant for fear of exploitation from the big bad world. She new that the word was not a nice place there for why did she have to be nice?......huh?

Soon she unleashed her claws and lifted them up to the heaves. Oh yes Akwa could control the weather partly but she could control……………..the lightning. So as she did that lightening striked her claws and electrified them. Static surged through her lower arm up to her shoulders. Her eyes had also adopted the electricity flowing through her veins and now her eyes showed static. That girl was long gone as was so much of Laura Howlett, she was no know as Talon or X23 which personality had the strongest hold on her she was. Some times unpredictable, volatile and hostile then definitely X23. But quiet, Emo, Logical yep and that was Talon. She had forgotten who Laura Howlett actually was now.

“Akwa I won’t hurt you……I can’t……how am I……..I suppose to harm some one that I care for……..and yes I do care for you…….as hard as it is to believe………I……I  do.” She paused a moment and looked toward the ground. Thinking of what else she could possibly say to make her much more vulnerable. “You……..funny………….and very immature at times but that’s why I like you……as a friend of coerce” she said nervously and continued. “But I won’t loose you no matter what has control over you……………just hang………….hang on Akwa cause help is on it’s way……………please if you could do any thing for me……….stay!”
 

Akwa watched as Talon didn't even bother to dodge the icy barrage. Instead she stood there and took it. The shards of ice mutilated and tore her skin. Her blood splattered against the ground.

No, he thought. What are you doing Talon? Fight back! Don't let him get the best of you!

Talon's wounds healed slowly. Akwa noticed that she was not only weathering the attack but slowly moving forward as well. Primal, who was abosrbed in his excitement, had not noticed. And Akwa sure as hell wasn't going to tell him.

If there was one thing Primal was, it was focussed. So caught up in sending wave after wave of hail, he didn't even notice Talon nearby until he felt a soft touch against his face. He looked up and snarled. A tear was going down her eye.


“I……Akwa…….I……Know…… …….y………your…..in there”

Akwa looked into her eyes and saw the emotion in there.

She likes me, he thought. She really likes me. I knew she would eventually fall for my natural charm. I just wish it hadn't taken being posessed by Neanderthal here for her to realise it.

NEANDERTHAL?!

Oh, shut up you. You remind of Big Red. In fact, even Big Red is less of a jerk than you are!

Primal retaliated and Akwa retreated back into the subconscious with the mental equivalent of a broken nose. Primal was a much stronger mind then Akwa was. After all, instincts were one of the strongest things in a human mind.


Talon's eyes hardened and she unsheathed her claws. She lifted them up and Primal grew uneasy. Something was going to happen. Something did happen. In a bright flash, a bolt of lightning speared down from the heavens and struck her claws. For a moment, Talon seemed to glow.

Well, that was...interesting.

That was Akwa's thoughts on the matter. Primal's opinion was different. The competitor had called down skyfire. It remembered skyfire. Skyfire was the thing that blasted tree's and started forest fires. A member of the group had been killed by skyfire before his very eyes once. They had been running through the plains, attemtping to find shelter in the forest. All had made it but one. There had been a flash and a smell of burnt flesh and when they looked up again one of them was lying on the ground dead.

Primal knew what lightning was. Knew it, and was afraid of it.


“Akwa I won’t hurt you……I can’t……how am I……..I suppose to harm some one that I care for……..and yes I do care for you…….as hard as it is to believe………I……I  do.”


Yes! No wait...if she can't hurt me, then what is he going to do? Just stand there and let Primal kill her? She must have a better plan than that.

Primal's thoughts were something along the lines of a mental whine.  It was still spooked from the lightning.

"You……..funny………….and very immature at times but that’s why I like you……as a friend of coerce”

Immature? Never!

But I won’t loose you no matter what has control over you……………just hang………….hang on Akwa cause help is on it’s way……………please if you could do any thing for me……….stay!”

At this point, Primal had gotten over it's fear and lunged at her. At least, he tried to. Halfway through the lunge he seemed to collapse onto the ground moaning. Several of Primal's muscles weren't going in the right directions.

Whoopsy Daisy, did I accidentally pull a few muscle strings? Silly me...

AKWA! He was defying him yet again! Primal beat Akwa's mind down and got to his feet. He tried to attack Talon but he couldn't move! Akwa was attempting to move the body in the opposite direction while he was trying to move forward. It ended up with him frozen on the spot with his muscles tense and straining, like a dog at the end of it's leash. Akwa took his brief moment of control to send Talon a telepathic message. Primal couldn't use telepathy. It was too sophisticated and subtle for him. Because of this, Primal was unable to stop Akwa from sending the message.

Go Talon! Go now! I can't hold him back for much longer!


YOU! You dare challenge me! How can you be fighting me! I am the stronger will!

With those words, battle was joined inside Akwa's head. Primal and Akwa exchanged mental blows with the speed of thought. The mental battle lasted barely a second before Primal won. He was doing the mental equivalent of stomping Akwa's face into the mental equivalent of a curb. Snarling with satisfaction, he took back control of the body. He managed to move one the feet forward a few centimetres before Akwa was back on his mental feet attacking him from behind.

HOW! How can you be doing this? I am stronger! How!?

Akwa's mind appeared to be city. A large one with huge skyscrapers and tiny hovels. It was always raining, with puddles of water on the street and the gutter overflowing. Akwa and Primal were currently in one of the alleyways. Primal charged at Akwa but Akwa easily dodged, leaving Primal to run into the wall of the alleyway.

You come into my body, you fight me in my own house! This is my home ground! Akwa thought as he mentally smashed Primal in the face with a right hook. This was followed by a fist into his stomach and a spinning kick to the groin. Primal backed off, wheezing. Akwa, despite the air of mental confidence he was projecting, was worried.

Primal was the stronger mind, fuelled by powerful desires and instincts. Akwa only had the upper hand now from the sheer force of his anger of being violated in such a way. Soon, Primal would overpower him and retake his body. Whatever Talon was doing, she better do it soon!

 She could see the internal conflict going on in his mind and could feel it the pain that he was going through. The hurt she knew it all to well. It was the battle for the mind. His mind something to precious to be locked away for eternity only to watch the pain that the other can cause. She knew it drove him crazy but the it would make his stronger. Sadly for her instead of making her stronger with dealing with X23 it made her insane. Yes. She was psychotic she had been diagnosed back when the sentinels had emerge. That time she spent in those SHEILD Facilities being tested on like a rat pushed her off the edge much further than she ever thought she could ever be.

He then ran toward her but even so she did not move stance. Expecting him to attack she would not attack only defend but he did not. In the middle of his attack he fell to his knees and the struggle began. She could see him fighting desperately to try to regain control. She felt so helpless in this thing he was going through. She wanted to help him…no she needed to help him.  She had to it was killing her watching him like this going through this pain. She was tempted to go to him again but soon heard Akwa’s voice in her head that voice his voice his own no one else in her head. Wait! He was in her head. She was not sure if she should shudder or feel delighted that he was capable to talk to her again.

“ Go Talon!” she could hear the urgency on his voice the caring she needed to act swiftly and now. He wanted her to for she was not going to leave him friend or maybe something more she would not leave him to fight this battle. He was there for her when Hyperion wanted her power. He was there when even after many times on pushing him to the ground he always got up and thought nothing of it. Even if he was stubborn and a bit big headed he could be humble at times. Especially back them when they first met she was vulnerable “Go now! I can't hold him back for much longer!”

He cared for her! Ok so he cared for her safety still he cared for her well being!  Outstretching her right hand the sword materialized in her hand. She could feel the rush of power flowing through her made her feel different. She approached Akwa and looked at him. She knew time was short and the best was to kill him. She should have killed him she needed to there was no other way. She could feel the inner battle that she was going through part of her just wanting to kill him and another pleading not to. She raised the sword over his head preparing to strike him and end this quickly and as painless as possible. She paused her sword about to strike and looked at him. Only looked at him. “I…can’t” she eventually said falling to her knees. Her sword lay beside her.

She looked at his wet face and smiled. She needed to get to him but not here not like this or rather not in the real world. Leaning over she touched his face and thought a moment. Then slowly and cautiously their lips met. She held his face and kissed him. Strange enough she did not know what else to do. Once realizing what she was doing she pulled back quickly. And looked at him in shock. “What have you done to me” she whispered. After regaining her composure she knew that the only pace for the battle to take place was in his mind she needed to reach him and that would be the best way.

She did not know how she did it or what did it but only knew she entered his mind by using some kind of power. She found herself in a dark dank city. “So this is the geniuses mind.” She said smiling. Talon did not like wet things wet or slimy but when she kissed him it did not feel slimy to her or maybe that was lust talking not really caring. It had been so long since she had kissed any one and when she did it with him it was a strange sensation. But hopefully Akwa would have been to preoccupied to know what she did for she would never tell him.

She soon reached an alley where she picked up his scents. After savoring it a moment she snapped back into the present and could see Akwa. She knew he would hate her she knew he would not know but she did not care. So leaping form the building she landed beside him. And looked at him with a sly smile “So water boy got a plan?”

Akwa drove his fist into Primal's face but Primal just shrugged it off. In  Akwa's mind, Primal resembled nothing more than a huge hulking ape/wolf/bear thing that seemed to be made of a combination of flesh, fur and shadow. It roared and kicked out Akwa's legs with a sweeping kick. Akwa landed hard on the ground. Before he could get up, Primal dropkicked him the length of the alleyway, sending him flying out into the street.

Ouch.

As he lay on the wet pavement, he heard footsteps. He looked up, expecting to see Primal. He didn't.

Hello, old chap

Akwa groaned. It was another of his personalities. No doubt come to gloat about the downfall of the dominant mind. Than Akwa looked at the personality again. It resembled a middle-aged man with black hair that was going gray at the temples. He wore an evening tuxedo and was holding a cup of tea and saucer in his gloved hands. The constant rain didn't seem to touch him. Akwa knew this personality. He'd met this one before. This was Civilised, the complete opposite of Primal.

The last he had heard of Civilised was back in that clone fiasco with Hyperion and Talon. Back then, Civilised had made several comments about Akwa's maturity or lack thereof.

Are you going to help me? he thought.

What? Of course not. I'm not that kind of person.

Then why the hell are you here?

Amusement. Civilisation grinned and fiddled with his moustache. Akwa groaned for a second time. It didn't seem to matter how civilised his other personalities were, they were all jerks. Hyperion would've fitted in well.

BEGONE!!!

Primal was back. Civilised vanished. Akwa got to his feet to face his inner beast. By God, it was ugly. Akwa was losing hope. Primal was so much stronger. How could he fight it? He slumped back. What was the point?

At that moment, the rain stopped. Both Akwa and Primal looked up, perplexed. Akwa knew the landscape of his own mind quite well. It had never stopped raining before. But soon it surpised him even more. The clouds began to drift away and for the first time, the rays of the sun touched the forlorn, broken down old city.

The warmth and light soothed Akwa's tired and bruised bones. It gave him energy and restored his hope. A second or so later however, the sun went down and it started raining again. But that did not matter. Akwa was rejuvenated and his will to live regained. Briefly he wondered what had happened in the real world to prompt such a good response in his mind. He filed it away. It was not important now. If he survived, he could ask Talon about it later. Maybe she knew.

Akwa launched a flurry of blows that drove Primal back into the alleyway. He knew he couldn't keep it down forever. He needed a plan. Just then he heard a clap of thunder and there was a flash as a bolt of lightning struck a nearby rooftop. Primal cringed at the sight.

That was another odd thing. The eternal storm in his mindscape had never thundered or had lightning in it before. It had always just been rain. Sometimes hail.

...He heard a noise. A noise that sounded suspiciously like someone jumping down behind him. Probably just another of his multiple personalities coming to watch.


“So water boy got a plan?”

"Well, basically, I'm going to keep hitting that damn thing until it dies" he replied. And then stopped. That mental voice sounded like none of his other personalities. It reminded him of...He spun around.

"Talon!," he exclaimed. That was what the lightning had been. No doubt it had marked her entrance into his mind. How did she do that anyway? No time, he could ask her later.

"Am I glad to see you!"


He heard a growl behind him as Primal closed in on them, snarling at Talon.


'Talon, this is disgusting manwolfbear. Disgusting manwoflbear, this is Talon."

Enraged at Akwa's insults, Primal swung a fist at Akwa. Akwa dodged and Primal smashed a hole in the wall behind him instead. It swung and faced Talon.

"I remember you, b!tch!"

"Well, basically, I'm going to keep hitting that damn thing until it dies” Yes that was Akwa. She giggled slightly at the sound of his voice and frustration. It sounded like something she would even say. Obviously not in the same vocabulary but same intent on killing the thing that threaded them. She hated to admit it but he was a morn human version of her. If she had not been a HYDRA agent then maybe she and him would have had the same sort of personality. But alas she was a HYDRA agent and would never expose herself to such slang.

"Talon!," he almost shouted she could not help herself from smiling. But the sound of him uttering her name was almost uncanny. And the relief that it filled was amusing at the least. Most of the time they had met like this when one of them were in danger. Last time she had saved him from Hyperion and here she was saving him again only….from himself. But this was much harder than before. Because now she had emotional attachment toward him meaning she would be distracted……….by him.

"Am I glad to see you!" She was shocked at his truthfulness and certainty. Yes she was glad to see him but for him to be…..glad……..as he said was a new thing to her. She wanted to say she was glad to see him to but she had restates and had to comply to them. I

t would have been out of her character to say she was happy to see him to no matter how happy she was. That was just the way she worked. She showed no emotion no matter what the situation was she would always remain that way. Though she knew that might have hurt the people around her she also knew that it was the only way for her to remain unemotionally.

'Talon, this is disgusting manwolfbear. Disgusting manwoflbear, this is Talon." She looked at the creature.  It then lunged toward Akwa but he swiftly moved out of the way. But then turned his attention to her.

"I remember you, B!tch

It snarled at her and she sighed “Yah me again. But before it could make a move she leaped over it and grabbed a hold of Akwa’s shoulder and looked at him. Then with that she teleported them both further away from the city. In a flash of light they dropped a few feet before hitting ground.  She laid there on top of him a moment staring at him. It brought back memories of their first encounter but quickly she got up and looked at him. “I am glad that I am with you” she said. Not knowing weather she should have. “But I suspect you have a better plan that hiting the creature?” but she knew he did not.

"Uh...of course I do!" He said confidently with a grin. She knew he had no Idea but that was how he words up front and very, very personal. Even in his battle with her he showed planning giving Talon the assumption that he did use his mind in some circumstances. But she did not mine she expected I'm to come up with a plan. Any way he was the older and in this situation she did not intent to come up with a plan just to let him dabble on so that she could hear his voice was all she needed at this moment.  But soon she saw that he had lost track on her question and was thinking about something else.

"Uuhh...Talon? Where are we?"

The question hit her as hard as a bullet as she soon looked around. Now the mind was a dangerous place to be in and she knew that. But a jungles was the worst place for her to be in. She slightly recognized this place from when she went to Brazil on a trip with Logan and  Daken. It was suppose to be bonding time for them but soon both Daken and Logan realized that Talon on the other hand was better left in the city. Terrains like this would make or better said bring out the animal in her and make her unpredictable. Though not one  knew why if it was the air the plant life or just the feeling of complete and utter wildness and no organization or rules.

She stared at Akwa a moment and said still curios “I…..I don’t…..Know?”
 
but then as she looked at him she felt an urge and strong one. Stronger that any other one that not even she could fight. She then looked away from him in desperate attempt to reduce the feeling and try to get a way out of him. With out looking at him she asked “I…I this we should find…..a better and height place we don’t know how long it will take the other you to get here.” She could feel sweat pouring down her face. Considering she was wearing a bulky leather jacket she thought a change of attire was in call for. “I’ll be back” she said to Akwa before disappearing into the bush.

It was a few minuets before she emerged. She had used her claws to cut the legs of her jeans making them barely cover her thighs. Then she had slung her black jacked around her waist and cut the sleaves of her shirt. On her upper body she wore a thing white vest that left her stomach completely bear as for the rest it was very obscene for even her. Taking another look around she walked up to Akwa and asked
 
“Well did any thing happen while I was gone”.

Talon knew she was not acting herself how could she. She was with a man who’s scent aroused her and in the perfect area for her. Her eyes where bright yellow and full of lust. But Talon did not care what was the worst that could happen. They were only in her mind any thing that would happen would only be telepathic and not physical. “Well” she said sliding her hand down his chest “Any thing happen” she asked again smiling as she gazed into his eyes.