Chapter 13: Claws

Chris. Rocket, and X-23 sat in the back of a BSAA transport truck. Lucky that Chris was able to use a communicator that Spencer, the Bionic Tyrant had on him from his brief alliance with them. They were on their way to a BSAA safe house in South America. A place where they could eat, sleep, and get a change of clothes.

“UUUUUUHHH! How much farther is this place Chris!?” Rocket roared.

“Not much farther.” Chris said as he and X-23 waited patiently in the back of the truck. Rocket, however, squirmed.

The truck barreled down the road, hitting bumps that didn’t seem to shake the group. Except for Rocket who appeared as car sick as a raccoon could while he fought to hold back his vomit. Unfortunately for Chris, and X-23 he didn’t fight to hold back his word vomit. That being said even Rocket had to admit that it was nice to kick back and relax.

“It was lucky for us that Bio-Weapon had a BSAA communicator, that being said…” Chris bit down on his lip catching X-23’s attention. “It sickens me to think of who that B.O.W used to be! Could have been somebody from my squad. Regardless its never a good day when Umbrella runs around using anyone as a guinea pig.” Chris’ face harshened.

X-23 took a look down at her fist. Experimentation… If it weren’t for it I’d be powerless to fight. But it also robbed me of a normal life. I wasn’t doing much with that life but nevertheless, I respect Chris for wanting to protect our right to it. She lamented the thought of another young girl getting robbed of a normal life. And from then on she was determined to help Chris achieve his goal of ending bioterrorism. After all it mirrored her experiences with the X-Men and fighting the Brotherhood.

As the group continued their leisurely drive, an ominous force lay in wait just down the road. Sabretooth. Accompanied by members of the Mad Gear Gang. This caught X-23’s attention. She could smell something wicked in the air, as well as something familiar. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it was on the tip of her nose.

Sabretooth? She thought; however she wasn’t entirely sure. Despite uncertainty she knew she had to tell Rocket and Chris that they may be being stalked. And as she prepared to tell them they had been joking around about Chris’ muscles and Rocket comparing him humorously to his own partner Peter Quill., but juxtaposing him against Drax the Destroyer. Not wanting to alarm them she started calmly.

“I don’t mean to alarm you guys. But I must tell you that we may be ambushed…”

Chris and Rocket appeared stunned, Chris trying to maintain his composure while Rocket immediately reached for Chris’ sidearm and tried to wrestle it away from him. Chris fighting back.

“Hey! What are you doing!?” Chris asked.

“I need a gun man! Come on!”

“Just calm down! They’ll know we know if you just start blasting away!”

Rocket struggled for a few more seconds before giving up. “Man…” *Rocket huffing* out breath saying “You’re strong for a humie…”

“Are you sure they intend on an ambush?” Chris asked X-23.

X-23 unleashed her claws swiftly catching Chris off guard. She clenched her fists as the veins in her hands popped from her fury. She was certain it was Sabretooth now. Sworn rival of her mentor Wolverine (X-Men). X-23 prepares herself. And as they continue to drive… nothing.

“Maybe it was just recon?” Chris states not wanting to rule X-23’s theory out entirely. X-23 sniffing the air furiously in confusion. “What about you Rocket? Do you smell anything.” He said.

“Yeah… bull crap!”

“Rocket!” Chris scolds.

“I smell a lot of things nimrod. But nothing I’m familiar with.”

X-23 then interjects. “He wouldn’t, I smelled my Mentor’s rival. The deadly Sabretooth. Recon is possible but not really his style. Although there’s no denying it, his scent is gone…”

The trio was relieved yet uneased. Staying on their toes and keeping their heads on a swivel all the way to the safe house. X-23 was sown with a seed of doubt. Was her senses and instincts failing her? She didn’t know. She was sure that she smelled Sabretooth. Fearing that Chris and Rocket had written her off, she looked to them. And at first her fears seemed to come to pass. Considering Rocket was ignoring her. She grew disheartened, but then she looked at Chris and his worried expression said it all. He believed her. This made her feel at least somewhat validated.

“Here we are.” The BSAA agent stated. Arriving at what appeared to be a small apartment in a bustling South American city.

“Thanks.” Chris said to the agent. “Alright guys… time for some R&R.”

“Alright!” Rocket cheered as he entered the small room, no bigger than a single bedroom apartment. Rocket surveyed. “Well it’s no Milano, but it’ll work!” Rocket yelled while pumping his fist.

“What’s a Milano?”

“Peter’s ship. Well… our ship.”

“Well it’s better than a prison cell.” Chris jokingly remarked, having spent many hours in a prison before due to his former occupation as a police officer for the R.P.D.

Rocket surveyed again. “Eh… not a Nova Corps prison cell.”

“…” Chris ignored Rocket from then on out. He then looked back towards X-23 with a smile hoping she’d be relieved to get some much needed rest. He was met with instead a woman who was insecure and not even looking him in the eye. Chris gulped nervously as he then tried to shift the mood.

“Hey…” He said, getting her attention. “I hear it’s not as good as a Nova Corps prison but… it’s got a nice chair, and some new clothes.” Chris said, but she was still silent.

“…” Chris then tried one more time.

“And it’s got a shower too.” He said with a nervous smile.

After some deliberation X-23 finally softened up a little and let out faint smile before saying “Well it beats all the rain showers.”

She then entered as Chris followed. Closing the door behind them.

While in the safe house the group ate cup noodles, Listened to music, showered, and even got a change of clothes. As Chris re-geared and rearmed as Rocket put on an R.P.D T-Shirt that had the words Raccoon City written across the back. Chris noticing this and laughed at the Raccoon wearing the shirt that he was. Rocket upset that Chris wouldn’t tell him what was so funny. At the same time X-23 found a full leather outfit much like her own. However it required a few modifications for her taste.

She drew her claws.

“Woah lady!” Rocket yelled as he and Chris looked on in surprise.

She then used her claws to smoothly slice off the bottom of the shirt to make it more revealing around the stomach area. Making it more similar to her previous outfit. The only major difference being the BSAA logo that was positioned on the bicep. X-23 noticed this.

“Is this like… like stolen valor or something?” X-23 asked, prepared to peel the logo off of the shirt, looking at Chris all the while.

“Hmm.” Chris looked at her curiously before laughingly dismissing it. “Nah. Actually I think it suits you!” He said with enthusiasm as X-23 blushes. Rocket was not impressed.

“Bleh! You humans and your emotions.” He stated as he went back to observing his own outfit. Trying to figure out what it was Chris found funny. “I don’t get it! It’s just gray!”

Chris and X-23 both began laughing this time as Rocket grew more frustrated. And he roared at them as suddenly they stopped laughing. Rocket pleased with this was unaware of the beefy muscular silhouette grew closer and closer to the window until *SHATTER* The glass exploded! And Wolverine was then standing dominantly over the trio. Claws drawn, three in each hand. Rocket laying on the floor, crawling out of there in a panic, but X-23 was the most surprised of them all.

“L-Logan!?”