[CENTRE][h1][color=gold][b]X - 2 3[/b][/color][/h1][/CENTRE]
[centre][url=https://youtu.be/LWz0JC7afNQ]Weapon X-23
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[colour=gray]Issue #1.1 - Blood-Drenched Marionette
Previous Issue - Sample Post[/colour][/centre]
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Dawn drew nearer and nearer as X-23 travelled down the narrow path.  The further along the path she travelled the more she noticed the trees around her thinning out providing less and less cover.  The snow had been steadily building up overnight and the cold had not grown any more bearable.  A brisk wind stung the eyes slightly forcing a rapid blinking.  X-23 found herself wandering into an icy plain, the path ended abruptly, before her lay a tranquil sprawling landscape.  In the distance there looked to be a frozen river before the environment jarringly transitioned into formidable grey mountains.  There was nothing in sight that indicated any kind of base that was being operated out of.  [i]It has to be somewhere here.[/i] She thought

X-23 continued onward now with now guidance in direction from the path, closing her eyes she focused her efforts on listening.  There was nothing she heard that stood out to her.  Her nose began to twitch as she sniffed.  [i]Someone is near.[/i]  She picked up a weak scent nearby, slowly she followed it until it was almost directly below her.  With a swipe of her foot, she kicked aside some of the snow, and again until something that looked to be metal was uncovered.  [i]Here.[/i]  With her hands and legs, she began to dig out the snow, large piles of snow steadily formed the outline of what was quickly becoming recognizable as a large, sealed metal door, almost like a trap door. 

She stood up to survey what she had just uncovered.  All around the door were large mechanical latches, at least that is what X-23 could make of them.  At the bottom were two handles, likely to lift the door although it also seemed to be an aided opening.  Beside the handles was a security device to scan cards and unlock the door.  “Location found.” She whispered.  [b]“Make your way inside the outpost X-23.  Eliminate anyone that you encounter.”[/b] The voice in her ear spoke.  From this new standpoint she could pick up several new scents from inside the base. "Understood." She replied quietly.

Taking out the security card she retrieved from the guard earlier, she placed it carefully into the card reading device and swiped it along its surface allowing it to be scanned.  There was a brief but sharp electronic beeping before the door began to make obscure noises and flashed up a light of green, causing X-23 to take a step back momentarily.  Bending over she took hold of the two handles and pulled them upwards, she only needed to apply herself briefly before the door opened the rest of the way automatically.  Now revealed to her was a staircase heading down, at the end was a bright light emanating from the subterranean room.  Cautiously she made her way down the staircase to find herself in a large open space that was full of crates, boxes, and equipment that had been used to move them.  Some were opened while others were carefully sealed and secured.  At the far end of the room, it narrowed out into corridors that led further onwards. 

Quickly X-23 leaped behind one of the crates, ducking to hide behind its cover.  She had realized there was a group approaching.  Possibly several.  She could smell them, hear their footsteps, the words they were speaking idly.  “How much longer do you reckon this will take?” One voice said, it was a high pitched and strained male voice.  “Who knows, could be here for another month still, I’ve stopped trying to guess.” Another responded a course female voice.  “Probably a wise way to look at it, it will be done when it’s done, eh?” A third voice, belonging to a soft-spoken man.  The three were making their way to the entrance/exit, which was still left open by X-23. 

“So where are they then?” The high-pitched man said.  “Did they wander off leaving their manners behind them?” He continued.  “No, they just got here where would they have even gone?  Likely would have passed them even if they did.” The soft-spoken man replied.  “Well, where are they then?” The course woman asked. 

[i]NOW.[/i] X-23 thought, and once thought found it almost impossible to resist. 

[b]SNIKT[/b] X-23 involuntarily popped her claws.  “Huh?” the soft-spoken man said. 

Darting out from behind the crate she charged the three guards.  Their eyes widened in surprise and then fear once the realization of what was happening hit them. 

[b]BANG. BANG. BANG.[/b] They had managed to raise their rifles and started firing off shots.  Without slowing down X-23 deflected two of them with her claws and dodged the third before pivoting to the left where she now closed the distance from behind cover. 

Shots continued to fire off the sound of bullets tearing through wood and other materials could be heard as the bullets pierced the obstacles between themselves and X-23. 

With great speed X-23 jumped atop one crate before using it as a platform to launch herself over to the three guards with a feral yell [b]“RRRAAAAAAGGGGHHH!”[/b].  She landed on the man with the high-pitched voice, sinking her claws into his shoulders, he yelled out as they fell together. 

“Run damn it run!” The course woman yelled at the soft-spoken man who after a second of hesitation turned his back and ran as fast as he could back towards the corridors that they had emerged from. 

Pulling her claws out of the man X-23 dashed forward and stabbed them into the solar plexus of the woman.  As she went limp, she retracted her claws allowing her too to fall.  The soft-spoken man had not gotten far before she started her chase after him, in no time at all she closed the distance and tackled him to the ground.  Popping out only one set of her claws she pierced the soft-spoken man through the back of his throat and retracting it once more. 

After she dealt with the guards, X-23 approached the corridor from which they had come from.  It was a long, clean, light grey room.  Entering it she began to walk its length before a bend to her right gave the option of continuing forward or turning into a new corridor which looked identical to the first direction.  Above her were thin rectangles of light that were evenly spaced out.  She closed her eyes again and focused on her sense of smell.  Forward she could pick up on nothing, however after a moment she caught something that was coming from the right corridor.  And so that was the direction she continued her journey down. 

Eventually, the corridor opened into a room, it was a rather simple one with the same lights as those of the corridors.  Its furniture was simple benches and a drinking water fountain.  There was also a large, shaded window.  Through it there could be seen to be a pristine lab environment, although one that had been mostly cleared out of what equipment it had once held within it.  There was, however, still a group of people that unfortunately for them were still there.  They were talking to each other, X-23 could not hear them nor any other sound from that room.  She could see that there were four of them in the lab, however at the far end there was another door that led into a second room, meaning she could not count out the possibility of there being more. 

Crouching down she slowly crept towards the door to the lab, on its handle was a device to scan cards like that of the one that was on the entrance to the outpost.  Once more X-23 took out the security guard she had taken from the guard and swiped it on the device.  This time, however, she was met with a flash of red light, the door remained locked.  [i]They know I am here now...[/i] she realized.  [i]Then I will do what I have to.[/i] She stood up and backed up from the door.  Inside she could see that the doctors in their long white lab coats were in a panic.  With a run up to the door she slammed into it shoulder first.   

[b]CRACK. CRASH.[/b] 

The centre of the reinforced door splintered and split as X-23 burst through. 

“Oh god!  Oh god!” One of the doctors cried out as they all made a dash for the door at the other end of the room.  Three of them made their way through the door before stopping the fourth from following them. 

“Wait wait.  Please, wait!” They cried out in despair as one of the doctors on the other side of the doorway took out a vial and sprayed the fourth before closing and locking the door on them. 

[i]What was- [/i]

X-23 found her own line of thought interrupted as soon as she caught the scent on the doctor that was now sitting dejectedly with their back against the door they had tried to escape out of.  Her vision was a crimson red.  [i]“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!”[/i] She lashed out in a rage, her claws were extended and as she waved her arms around uncoordinated, she made deep gashes on the walls and floor. 

She couldn’t think straight, she couldn’t focus on anything.  She couldn’t control anything.   

Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the door that the doctors had escaped from.  It was covered in a dark bloody red, as was that entire section of the room from the floor to the walls to the ceiling.  She was standing over what once was a living breathing human being, looking at it know that might have been hard to believe. 

X-23 caught herself breathing laboriously. [i] Why do... they have... that.[/i] 

With a boot she kicked in the door before her, taking it off its hinges with one powerful impact.  It led to another staircase that went further down underground. 

[b]“That is enough X-23.”[/b] The voice in her ear spoke suddenly.  Her body jolted to a stop. 

[i]But...  [/i] 

[b]“Return to the entrance now X-23.” [/b]The voice commanded.  There was a moment of silence. 

“Understood.” She whispered.  

X-23 turned her back on the staircase.  Her job here was done.  Even though it did not feel like that. 

Looking down she noticed that her hands were still clenched into fists, her claws still extended.  She was shaking.   

[i]I followed my orders...  That wasn’t supposed to happen again.  Not again... He promised.[/i]