Penance and New Beginnings: Chapter 11

by Verthril

Disclaimer : Marvel Owns The X-men, I'm just borrowing them.

Author's Note : Wow, been ages since I've worked on this story. Actually was inspired to write this short little addition just to get the old creative juices flowing. I hope to get something a little larger out,but for now, enjoy!

Chapter Eleven : The Hunt

He walked with the casual air of a man with no care in the world, secure in the knowledge that he was safe and that nothing would dare move against him. This came from the untold deals with certain shadows among the Black Ops world, and countless other deals in which a little piece of his humanity was sold off bit by bit. He was above all and everything had a price, including his own saftey. While the price was high, he had means of paying for it. Untold millions upon the latest security system, hiring the very best security consultants and bodyguards, ensuring a varied routine that was far from routine. In the end, he was a shadow to all and just as hard to catch. But as always, for every move there is a countermove, and tonight he would find out that he had been put in check.

The sound of the .357 magnum cocking from the shadows made him skip a beat, even more so when a bullet was carefully tossed to his feet, an X carved into the tip. Trademarks like this were often left by assassins who were secure in the knowledge that their idenity was still unknown, yet a calling card left behind would still allow the laurels to be had among their own ilk. He recognized the trademark before him, and his breath caught in his throat as he slowly turned to the shadow, meeting the face of the man that he only presumed was here to kill him, one of the few capable of the feat. Dressed in blue jeans, an old leather jacket and a cowboy hat, he recognized the man instantly from a lifetime ago, and realized that if his life was to end tonight, it would be for a very personal reason to the killer.

"Wraith." The man whispered, his throat growing tight with fear as he tried to still the waiver in his voice.

"Indeed. You know my name. And you know full well that names hold power, especially in this day and age when paper trails have drifted online. Care to give me one reason I shouldn't kill you now, just for what you did all those years ago?" Wraith asked, pulling the hammer of the gun back and taking aim upon his mark.

"I know things." The man shrieked out, ashamed at the girlish sound of his own voice, changed with the terror that now filled him.

"That's what my young friend is counting on. Now what do you know about Weapon X and El Tigre?" Wraith asked, taking a step out of the shadows just enough to show the dead look in his eyes.

"Young friend? Who?" The man asked, able to control his voice now that his curiosity was peaked.

Wraith looked to the man, remaining silent and still, letting his actions speak the volumes words alone could not. Only one person would be asking questions on this eve, and only one would be giving answers. Their places were taken upon the chess board, the players moving them as they wished in a game in which lives were sacrificed as easily as ones own pawns. Picking up upon this fact, the man gave a small nod of recognition to his err and struggled for breath.

"The new Weapon X has them, while the original has nothing to do with this stint. They were more amused with this insurgance upon their territory, and only wish to see how far the upsurpers would take this rouse of theirs. Weapon X as you know is a taboo to speak of in Black Ops and Merc groups, its name bringing fear. That is what the new ones long for, the terror and fear to be theirs to use. They've long since abandoned the original installation since Project Next escaped, as she is now refered to among them. Their new location is an unknown at this moment, probably mobile and I would take a guess at Sea based." The man whispered, keeping his voice hushed in hopes that only he and Wraith would hear the news.

As Wraith looked to the man, his gaze as cold as the hand of Death itself, he slowly eased the hammer back to rest, letting the man know he was satisified with the answer. Fading back into the shadows, he vanished into the night. He found out what he had came for, his suspicions at rest with the truth.

"Keep the bullet as a reminder to remain silent about what you have learned tonight, for if this is one truth you sell out, you had best do so in the knowledge that you shall be killed afterwards, for I shall come for you." Wraith remarked, his tone flat and monotone, no emotions passed along.

Giving one last glance to the man, he slowly felt his form disolving, as with it the reality around him. The place between came into view, the place he feared yet embraced. Darkness beyond anything he knew surrounded him, enveloped him, and consumed him. And just as he felt the icy hand grip his heart as it always did, warmth slowly returned, and with it light. Reality banished the darkness, and with it, he slowly gained his bearings. The further the distance, the further into the darkness he travelled. A last resort always, or the only means of travelling without any trace given to his existance. He could see her waiting, paitent and still, yet he knew all too well underneath the calm surface a sea of emotions raged.

"It was as I thought." Wraith remarked, walking towards them and sheathing his gun.

"Never doubted ya for a second." Jubilee remarked, her eyes not meeting his, lost to the distant horizon and to her friends.

"How are the others coming along with their intelligence?" Wraith asked, sitting down a few steps beneath her.

"Jake is still stalking our own friendly and lovable Victor Creed to see if he hasn't heard anything. Hank is using his computer knowledge to do a little hacking. And the others are just out keeping an eye out for them, while Remy and Rogue have gone off to stir up the Merc Groups." Jubilee explained, finally looking down to the enigmatic John Wraith.

"You think your boyfriend can handle Sabretooth?" Wraith asked, giving her a glance.

"No. That's why I got Bishop shadowing him. Between the two of them, Creed is toast. Jake can track him, and Bishop is backup incase Tooth pulls a few tricks on my love." Jubilee replied flatly, hoping Wraith wouldn't inquire further as to why Jake had longed to take on the real Victor Creed.

"What of Terror?" Wraith asked, picking up on Jubilee's wishes, while too knowing of the reputation Terror had among the circles he travelled in.

"He's brought back a few interesting leads and certain new appendages and body parts we're not even going to ask about. Ground rule is he can't kill, intentionally. The idea of Logan and Vic working for Weapon X, be it a copy cat group or the originals, has us all scared." Jubilee remarked, reaching for her coffee and taking a sip.

"Is that whiskey I smell?" Wraith asked, looking next to where the mug had been, finding an open bottle of imported Canadian whiskey.

Jubilee merely raised a finger to her lips, then pushed the bottle towards Wraith who took it obligingly. The two remained in silence from then on, with only the occasional yawn or sigh to break that silence. Both had been up since the early hours of the day, and both knew slumber would not come easy with the demons stirred. Both had survived the Weapon X program, albeit different encarnations, yet one truth remained in this, and that was that it was not an expierence either would wish upon anyone.