Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Huxley Station, Toronto

Laura had been listening to some music, trying to get some sleep as she headed back to Toronto, she had been having the same dreams as she always did, there was claws, there was blood, there was screaming, and it made the woman snap awake, looking around in fear before there was a noise from the intercom, “Huxley station.” It said, making her snap awake, looking around.

Laura saw that she was alone with nothing but a woman who looked protective of the little girl she sat with, “Sorry.” Laura whispered to the pair of them, seeing their fear, “Next stop, Huxley Station.” The Intercom continued to say as the train started to slow down before eventually it stopped, the doors opening up, Laura had followed the others that were there to get off.

As Laura got off, she had put her hands in her pockets, feeling like she needed to hide the scars on the wrists even as the others left her alone there, it was a feeling she always had, “Next train to New York City will be departing on platform 8B in ten minutes.” A new voice on the intercom said while she checked her dead phone, seeing that there was nothing the woman had focused on finding a payphone.

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“Hey, hey, it’s Laura.” The woman said to the phone, “Yeah, I’m– I’m back in town.” The woman said as she listened to the other end, Mrs. K talking to her, “I want to see Rina, okay?” Laura had asked her, as she listened to Mrs. K tell her how it was a bad idea, the ravenette had heard the sound of crying, confusing her as she looked and saw that a woman was approaching the tracks.

“Well, that’s not fair, is it?” Laura had asked her, trying to show emotion and not have that monotone voice she had since she was a child, Laura keeping an eye on the crying woman, thinking that she was too… too familiar, she didn’t know where and it was making her concerned before Laura focused on the phone, “Can I at least speak to her?” Laura had asked of her.

But there was nothing but a dial tone, “Hello?” she asked, but Mrs. K was not there, hanging up, Laura had started to think on what she would do, maybe she’d find something to do, checking on her other contacts, Laura had looked to her wallet and saw she had not enough coins, great, Laura had looked around, seeing the pacing and crying woman on the same section as her.

Laura had started to get more curious as she saw the woman had taken off her shoes and jacket, getting Laura more concerned as the woman folded up the jacket, making Laura more concerned as all of a sudden, the crying woman had turned to look at her and she saw that they were identical, seeing that, seeing how it wasn’t just a similarity, it was like she had been a reflection from some strange mirror.

As a train started to approach, the other woman had drawn a pistol, making Laura scared as she saw that the woman went to the edge and aimed underneath her head, pulling the trigger before her body had fallen in front of the train, Laura freezing up, terrified by the sight, almost gasping towards that, “Stop the train! Stop the train! Stop the train!” a nearby man shouted.

The people around were screaming, authorities were going try and get her out as Laura had walked closer, unsure why, but it felt… it felt wrong, before she could get close, see her body, one of the men there had stopped Laura, snapping her back to reality, “Get Control down here, now!”  a man shouted as what happened sunk in, the crowd coming in and chaos, Laura could only look around and see them.

The woman’s shoes, her jacket and her purse, and that gave her an idea as Laura had approached, grabbing the Purse, she had made her way away from them, Laura had started to think on what it was that she was going to do with everything, the woman was… she was terrifying to her mind, was she a Mutant shapeshifter, some illusionist? She didn’t know but she needed to figure it out.

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Toronto, Ontario

Laura had continued to pace through the streets before finding an alley with no cameras, taking a moment, Laura had opened up the purse to look inside it, finding her wallet, pocketing the money before seeing her ID and reading it, “Avery Connor.” She whispered towards herself before closing it and looking towards the rest, finding a smart phone and a blackberry, “Two phones.” She muttered to herself.

Unsure what that could mean as Laura found keys to a place, she was keeping those, taking a moment, Laura had looked around, at least until she saw another payphone by a mirror, walking over to it, she noticed herself again and the reflection, it made Laura wonder, why did they look so similar? Why did she shoot herself before going under the train? She needed help, and Laura knew where.

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Bar, Toronto

Laura was waiting, taking a shot, trying to calm herself when she heard the voice of her brother behind her, “Oh, my God, you look like crap.” Robert ‘Bobby’ Drake said, making Laura turn and smile towards him and laugh as she hugged him, the two of them happy to see each other again, “Hi.” “Hello.” The two of them went before Bobby tried to look her in the face, “No, but seriously.” he said.

Laura kissing his cheek repeatedly, making Bobby pull a face, “Ew. All right.” He said, which was her signal to stop, “How’s life, Bobby?” Laura asked him, “This long, no see? You don’t get to know.” Bobby teased towards Laura, playfully punching her cheek which made her chuckle, “I didn’t miss your birthday, did I?” she asked him, “No. I know. It’s totally pedestrian and the only reason I’m here.” Bobby told her.

The two of them smiling towards each other before Bobby looked to the bartender, “Oi, Bobby.” he said to her, “Hey, Bobby.” She responded, the two knowing the irony and liking to play along with it, “Guinness?” he asked, “Yeah.” She responded, going to get a pint for him while the pair of them moved off to find a more private table so that they could discuss their lives.

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“How’s Tom The Dom?” Bobby asked, hating how toxic he was for her, “Yeah, I hit him first, this time.” Laura said, not in the mood for him to ‘calm her down’ after their last fight, “With an ashtray, so…” she said smiling, “He’s a little blue instead of his usual hue.” the woman said, glad that it might hurt as Bobby noticed her opening her bag for him to look in and see the money inside of it.

“Whose?” he asked, “It’s Ev’s.” Laura said, “Think you can launder it to one of your laundry friends?” She asked him, “You have no idea what that costs me.” Bobby said, already thinking of a couple of people, “I’ll give you 20%.” Laura promised, “I wasn’t talking about my cut, Laura. I was talking about my pride.” Her sibling told Laura, “What are you up to?” he asked.

“As long as he has known Laura, she has never done something like this for kicks, “I’m here for RIna, Bee.” Laura said to him, “After what happened, you really think Mrs. K is going to let you take her?” Bobby asked, worried that things might go sideways for the two, or worse, Laura might have another one of her episodes, “She’s my daughter. She’s going to have to.” Laura reminded Bobby.

“You’ve been gone almost a year, Laura.” He reminded, making her get quiet, “I’m not judging. I’m just saying.” Before she could rebuke him, Bobby the bartender had arrived and gave Bobby his Guinness, “All right? Ta.” He said, “Yeah, so I’m back on the run, いつものローラの嵐。(the usual Laura shitestorm.)” She said, “どうやら。(Apparently.)” Bobby said, the two used to conversing in Japanese thanks to Mrs. K.

But that was when Laura thought she needed to tell him, “And on that note, something really weird just happened at the train station.” She told him, making Bobby curious, “What?” he asked her, making Laura think, “I saw a girl kill herself.” She told him and that got an immediate reaction, “Ew!” Bobby said in surprise, “A jumper?” he asked her, “No, she shot herself before falling.” Laura said.

“But the weirdest thing, she looked exactly like me, Bobby.” Laura told him, making him confused, “What do you mean?” he asked her, making Laura consider before going to pull out the things she took from the scene, “Oh! あなたは死体を強奪しました。(You robbed the body.)” He said, not thinking English was appropriate, “No, she left the bag on the platform.” Laura said.

“それは本質的に彼女の体を奪うことではないでしょうか?(Isn't that essentially robbing her body?)” Bobby asked as she revealed the ID, he took it, begrudgingly, and when he finally noticed the picture, he was surprised, “Okay, that’s weird.” he said, looking between the pair, “Yeah, you think?” Laura asked him as Bobby started to read the name on it, “Avery Connor? It’s you, with a nice haircut.” he said.

“And a nice address.” Laura said to him, “What the hell, Bee? Did I have a twin sister?” She asked him, “Well, now, when you’re a poor little orphan foster wretch, anything’s possible.” Bobby had told her, “Or so we tell ourselves.” he admitted, his Guinness starting to get colder as he said that while Laura thought, “I’m going to go up to her flat.” Laura told him, making Bobby curious.

“Yeah, to find out who she is or to rob the rest of her shit?” he asked her as Laura started to examine everything, “No car. There has to be a car.” she said, thinking just as one of the phones rang, making the pair look, “Is that her phone?” Bobby asked Laura, “Yeah.” Laura said, “Well, answer it.” Bobby told her and so the ravenette had taken a moment before she picked the phone up and saw it was someone called Scott.

Considering it and that she had no idea how the woman acted, Laura hung up on him, “Try to keep 20K of it, yeah?” Laura asked her brother who had resigned himself to the job, “All right, fine. What about Tom?” Bobby asked her, but Laura didn’t have a plan to deal with HIM yet, “I’ll call ya.” Laura promised, getting up and kissing her brother on the cheek, “Okay. Okay?” “Okay.” Bobby said as they both got to work.

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Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

Laura had walked up to the door, finding herself in a nice part of Toronto on the corner before unlocking the door and letting herself in, “Hello!” She shouted, making sure to sound just curious in case anyone was living in there besides Avery, no response, no lights, she was good for the moment as Laura took off her hood and looked upstairs, “Hello?” she asked, still nothing.

Seeing that she was alone for now, Laura had walked into the place and started to explore, the kitchen was lovely, the bedroom was huge and the closet was a mix of women’s clothing with men’s, “Boyfriend.” she muttered, not remembering a ring on her finger as she looked through their styles, “Squares.” Laura muttered, done with that part she went downstairs to get another look in the kitchen.

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Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto|Bobby’s Place, Toronto

The Travel Itinerary on the fridge had looked like it belonged both Avery and this other fellow in there with someone called JP coming back on Saturday, great, “Jean–Phillipe Charles. Out of town till Saturday.” Laura muttered, the names sounded a bit pretentious as she opened the fridge door and took a beer, needing a drink as Laura also saw that there were photos of JP and Avery on it.

She took one of them smiling and had to admit that Avery had some decent taste in men at least.|Bobby had put his pants back on as his launderer had finished up with his checks, “Well?” Bobby asked as the man went to put his pants on, “Marked bills with dye on them.” he said to him, “I can get it done in 20 days.” he told Bobby, “Twenty? With the hay roll?” He asked him.

“You can do better.” Bobby told him, just as someone banged on his door, causing him to freeze up for a moment, “I’ll see what I can do, for my standard fee.” the launderer told him, “Think fast.” Bobby said as he went to put the money away, someone banged on the door once more, “Okay.” he said as the person started to bang harder, “Okay!” Bobby shouted annoyed.

The person kept banging which was really bringing Bobby down, “Shit!” he snapped in annoyance, putting his shirt on before opening the door to reveal a shaven haired man in a suit, his eyebrow still bloody which was unusual for him as the dark skinned man looked annoyed, “What?” Bobby asked, not happy to see Everett Thomas, “Where the hell is Laura?” Everett asked him.

Coming in, hand on Bobby’s throat as the aura that he naturally generated started to flow out, turning his hand to ice just as Bobby started to freeze up, “Shit, Tom!” Bobby said as he backed away, the two frozen men getting further into Bobby’s home, “Where is she?” he demanded, “Can’t. Breathe.” Bobby had warned before he was tossed to the ground, the floor freezing from his impact.

“Oh!” he said as Everett started to look around, “Laura!” He shouted out, the launderer scared and started to get his things faster as Everett started to look deeper in, “Sarah?” he asked, trying to sense her, she could never hide from him and it was pissing Bobby off, “What the hell is wrong with you?” Bobby had asked, shooting a jet of ice, freezing his legs so that he couldn’t move.

But Everett had Bobby’s power right now, it did nothing for him as he scooted the launderer out, “Where the hell is Laura?” he asked again as Bobby saw his latest roll in the hay leave, “Toodles.” he said, “Where is she?” Everett demanded, “I don’t know.” Bobby said, the temperature of the room getting colder as he said this, “I haven’t seen her in, like, a year.” Bobby lied as he buttoned the shirt up.

“She’s been with you.” “Bulshit!” Everett had snapped towards him, “She’s not my problem anymore.” Bobby lied, as long as she was his sister, she was always going to be his problem to help, “Listen to me, Bobby.” Everett had told him, “I’m just going to ask you once… Where. Is. The. Money?” he asked, making Bobby out on his best confused look, “Money?” he asked him.

“Bobby.” Everett said to him, his aura starting to grow and as it did, the Mutant had taken a breath, “All right, fine.” he told Everett, taking a piece of garbage and giving it to him, “Here.” he said as Everett took it, “Blow me.” but instead of getting angry, Everett had only chuckled as he pocketed it, “That’s really funny.” he told Bobby, “What the hell happened to your head?” Bobby asked him.

“Well, let’s see, I got a new client, Laura went crazy, blindsided me, then she took off with the money.” Ev told him before he used his aura to fling the couch to the side, Bobby used his ice to grab it, and that was the distraction he wanted, “Listen to me! Listen to me.” Ev said, grabbing him by the shoulders and putting him in a chair as he started to get angry with him.

“Listen! I’m on the hook with a very dangerous man named Zebra Daddy–” Bobby snorted at the name, “He’s not funny, he’s dangerous.” he said before grabbing him by the chin, “Look at me. You understand? Look at me!” he snapped, “It’s going to bring pain on me. Till I find Laura or the money, it’s on you.” He said, slapping Bobby before he went to the fridge, seeing nothing but an apple.

“Mind if I have this?” he asked, annoyed, Bobby had waved him off, “I’ll be back. She better be here, fruitpop.” Everett told him before going to leave, “Lovely to see you again, Everett!” Bobby sarcastically told him, annoyed at what exactly Laura put him through.|“It’s Avery. So my credit is maxed, but… I’ve got a sweet pad and my new boyfriend Jean–Phillipe’s out of town for the weekend.” Laura told her brother.

|“Unfortunately, your real boyfriend, Tom the Dom, is already here.” Bobby warned her as he checked himself in the mirror for bruises.|“Shit!” Laura said as she put her brother on speaker, “Oh, I’m fine, by the way. Thank you.” He told her, “I’m sorry, Bee.” Laura told him.|“Your money is dirty, by the way. I’ll be lucky to get it in Twenty days but with Tom here I don’t think we’ll be lucky.”|

“What? That’s too long.” Laura said.|“For what?” Bobby asked, still curious, “To get out, Bee,” Laura told him.|“To set ourselves up with Rina somewhere.”|“Laura, who is Avery Connor?” Bobby asked her.|“I don’t know.” Laura told him, “She’s just a girl who looks like me.” Laura told him, “A girl with a pretty nice life.” She said, “If it’s so nice, why’d she kill herself like that?” Bobby asked her

Before Laura could answer, she noticed one of the papers, a bank statement, “Hold on.” Laura said.|“Bee, she’s got $75,000 in a savings account.” She told him, surprising her brother.|“Say again.” He asked as Laura went to check just to make sure she wasn’t misreading it, 75K!” The woman said, rubbing her knuckles with how exciting this was that she had found something like this.

“The account was just opened like, three weeks ago.” Laura told Bobby, “That’s enough to lose bloody Tom, yeah?” Laura asked him, “We can get away with this, Bee,” she told him, “The three of us.” muttering the part, already thinking on what to do.|“Laura, any second, someone’s going to ID the body and it’s game over.” Bobby warned as he prepared himself a glass.

“So you should really just drop it all right now.” Bobby warned her.|“Nice work with the ashtray, by the way. Guess that’s the one thing his aura can’t heal.” Bobby told her.|“Tom has stitches.” he said, reeling in seeing the injury but not getting a response.|“Hello?” He asked but Laura was focused on the news, “I’m standing outside Huxley Station right now…” “Shut up. I’m thinking.” Laura told him.

“Authorities have cleared out the station after an unidentified woman fell onto the tracks and was killed.” The reporter said and hearing that, Laura started to form an idea, “Now, witnesses aren’t sure how the woman came to be on the tracks or whether foul play was involved.” She told the watchers, “Bee.” Laura said to him, “Police have not released any more details.” “I have an idea.”

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Laura had perched herself on the table and watched the home movies, losing her expressions and went into ‘analytical mode’ as Bobby always called it, “All right, give me a big smile. I want a big smile.” Jean–Phillipe said to her, “Why are you shooting me right now?” Avery had asked him, “I love shooting you.” He told her, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Avery told him as Laura paused it.

As she rehearsed the footage, following her body language, checking her fashion, her cards, everything, even going into the bathroom with nothing but her underwear and finding– “Oh, shit.” She thought, “Drugstore cabinet.” Which she was going to ignore for the moment as she started to keep on it, checking the clothes, the hair styles in the photos, everything.

Taking another look at the footage which had Jean–Phillipe on the screen, “Are you ready to put your body through months of hell?” He asked before pointing to Laura in workout clothes, “You’re damn right.” She said before Laura paused it, “You’re damn right.” she said, repeating it like a voice recording, over and over as she started to change herself to match her look alike.

“You’re… You’re damned… You’re damn right.” Laura said, the phone, the one with Scott, had rung again, “Sorry, Scott, whoever you are.” Laura said, ignoring it as she looked at her reflection, copying Avery, “I’m gone for good.” she said, giving one last look to the recording, “You’re damn right.” “You’re damn right.” having copied it perfectly, she had it down, now for the cash.

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Bank, Toronto

Laura had strided in, making sure that she portrayed professional in the grey dress that she had found before approaching the desk, “Hi” she said, making sure to keep the body language she learned on display, “Uh, Avery Connor.” she told the receptionist, “I have an appointment with the manager, Stephen Riggs.” Laura said to the woman, “Sure, I’ll let him know you’re here.” Laura told her.

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Bar, Toronto

Bobby had taken a breath before thinking on how he was going to dial it in, “Bobby!” Bartender Bobby said to him, hitting the man in the shoulder, “Ow!” he snapped at her, “Use it or hang it up, okay?” The bartender said to him, “Do not snap towels at me, Bobby. I had a very traumatic childhood.” he told her annoyed before focusing on the phone and went to dial it in.

The man waiting, waiting and trying to think, “Yeah, hi. Um… Oh, totally awful.” he told the police officer on the other end, “Apparently, a girl killed herself at Huxley Station last night and I think I know her.” Bobby said, REALLY hating that his sister was making him do this, but the idea of 75K and getting away her and Rina, “Laura. Laura Echs.” He told them on the other end.

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Bank, Toronto

Laura had been sitting, waiting when she heard her doppelganger’s name, “Avery?” a man said, making her look and smile towards the man like she practiced, “Yeah, hi!” she told him, getting up to take his hand, “Good to see you again.” Stephen said, both chuckling, “How are you?” he asked her, “Yeah, good, Stephen.” Laura said to him as they started to walk to his office, “Thanks. Uh… busy.” she told him.

“I PR’d last week at 2:14.” he told Laura, “It was only a half, but it almost killed me.” he said to Laura, “Hmm.” she went silently, wishing there was more that she had for context as they walked still, “How’d you do your last charity run?” He asked her, “I… don’t know, in fact.” she told him as they moved further to his space so that they could be more private during their conversation.

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“I need to make a large withdrawal from that account.” Laura said as she handed him the file, “I see. Right, this is the one you just opened.” he told her, “Yeah, I’ll leave $500 in, to keep the account open, but I need the rest, in cash,” Laura told him, “Please.” she said, adding in the last part, “Cash?” Stephen asked, surprised, “Yeah.” she told him before he reacted.

“I’d really recommend a cashier’s check, if you–” “Uh no, 50s and 100s please.” she told him, “Well, we don’t keep that much on hand.” he admitted, “See, if anything over $10,000, we have to special–order and that takes two to four business days.” he admitted to her, “So, uh…” he said, swiping the card while Laura started to pivot on how she would work it, “Stephen, what could I do to… to put a rush on that?” Laura asked.

“You know, 24 hours.” she asked him, looking for a lever and found one in the trophies he had, “Could I sponsor your next charity–run thing?” she asked with a smile, she smiled more for anyone but Rina in her entire life compared to him, the Manager seeming to think before he smiled back to her, “You certainly can. Deal.” he told her, making Laura smile towards him as he swiped again.

“But…” he said, making Laura glad she wore it down, “This card is…” “I’m not even sure I’ve activated that yet.” Laura told him, “If I did, I need to re–PIN it.” she told him, “Demagnetized, maybe? Yeah.” he said with Laura nodding, “You know what? Let’s start with a new one and then we’ll organize the withdrawal.” he said towards them, “Okay.” “Okay.” The pair of them went to get to work towards them.

“Do you want access to your safe deposit box as well?” he asked and hearing that, Laura thought that there was more that she could get from Avery, “Oh, yeah. I’d… I’d love that, Stephen.” Laura told him as she was curious to see everything that her double was hiding, getting up to go and explore the life of the woman that might have been a twin but now was he way to freedom with Bobby and Rina.

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Laura had taken her safe deposit box just as the phone went off, the other phone that had a series of texts, “Where are you? Must see you.” She thought, wondering what exactly the person wanted, “Yeah, good luck with that.” She thought, putting the phone away and opening the box to see there was a filed with birth certificates of people she didn’t know, “Gabrielle Kinney. Avery Connor.” She thought before finding another.

This one was German, “Katja Obinger.” The woman thought, Laura unsure on what this was all about, but took the files anyways, picking them up, Laura figured that Avery must have them for a reason just like she had the 75K, stuffing them into her purse, Laura had started to get out and think on what was next for her as she started to get the Hell out of there as quickly as possible.

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Toronto, Ontario

Laura had almost reached Avery’s apartment, Laura started to think about how great and how– all of a sudden, the car that was on the other end had started to flash its headlights, making Laura a bit cautious, she wanted to approach before a siren went off and a car blocked off her path, making Laura worried as a man got out, caucasian with man with wayfarer rayban sunglasses that covered the sides of his face.

The crimson shades hiding his eyes but she could still feel his glare, “What the hell are you doing?” he asked, getting around to approach her, “Shit.” She thought, her knuckles aching as he flight or fight came in, the other car starting to leave them, “Get in the car!” the man had ordered her, opening the door, “Yeah… no thanks.” she said but that was the wrong thing, “Look, get the car, damn it!” he ordered.

That made Laura start to get think the old days, “What? What’s the charge?” she asked, ready to kick this guys ass and get the hell out–” “Don’t, Avs, not today.” the man said, crimson light glowing from behind his shades, so he was a Mutant, like Bobby, great, she was pushed to the opening, making her turn to him, her hands on fire, “We’re late!” He told her and hearing that, she decided to comply for now.

“Yeah. Okay, yeah. Calm down.” Laura told him as she went to get into the car, the man slamming the door shut, Laura had wondered what was going on, how she was going to– the man had entered and sat down before glaring towards her, “Where were you?” he demanded of her, “We were going to walk through it again.” The man reminded her, confusing Laura even more.

“Uh, yeah, yeah. I– I got held up.” She told him, but instead of relieving it only seemed to piss him off, “Don’t worry about it.” Laura told him, “I worry.” He told her, “Suddenly, you don’t give a damn, I get pissed.” the man told her, making the woman get a few more ideas, “My toned ass is on the line here, too.” he said to her, “Now, you had better be ready.” he told the woman thinking.

“Are you ready?” he asked, making the woman more and more worried about what she going to do, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m ready.” she told him, “You’re sure as hell overdressed.” The man told her, “What, were you out all night, or something?” The Officer had asked of her, “No, you know what? Give me a second. I’ll go in and change.” Laura said, trying to get away from him.

But before she could open the door, the man locked the door, “Yeah, right. You’d probably take off on me again.” the man told her, “Look, Avs, I know this shit is as hard as it gets, but you got to stop making it worse.” he told Laura, making her more confused as she saw the name that was on the police report, “Detective Scott Summers.” Giving her her answer on who it was, “Scott.” she said.

He looked towards her, as if a little confused before she spoke again, “Just… drive.” she told him, the two of them starting to drive off and as they started to move off, Laura started to rub at her knuckles, glad that she had worn something that covered up all of her scars at her wrists, they started to feel a bit itchy at the moment, so Laura had tried to scratch them subtly as she planned how to get out of this.

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Morgue, Toronto|Toronto Police Station, Toronto

“Oh, is that her?” Bobby had asked the Mortician who was by him, “Yes, yeah.” He said to the man before looking at him, “Are you okay?” He asked, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.” Bobby assured the man, “Okay.” the man said to him before going to open the door, “Um, Romeo, um…” he said, unsure what he was going to say to explain this, “Can I call you Romeo?” he asked, “Everyone else does.” Romeo told him.

“Ah. Um, well, don’t get me wrong… I usually enjoy creepy, I do, it’s just, um…” he said, starting to get more and more nervous, “The air in here, is that just me?” Bobby asked, starting to panic, “Because it smells like…” “Uh, no, it’s death.” Romeo said, Bobby starting to feel a sense of calm now as he looked at the body underneath the blanket, “You can do this, though. It can be a Gestalt.” Romeo warned.

“Oh, my.” Bobby said to him, smiling as he looked at him.|The car had driven up and looking, she started to wonder what exactly was going on and why she was going in there, “Holy shite.” She thought, “Let’s go.” Scott told her, grabbing her arm and dragging her into the station, Laura had wondered what exactly she would see as she walked into the area, “Hey, good luck, Avs.” a man with pointed ears told her.

Hearing that, she started to get concerned, “‘Fashionably late’ you called it?” a man asked, getting in the confused woman’s face, “She’s here, Lieutenant.” Scott told him, “You get busy. Detective, come with me.” The Lieutenant said before snapping, “Show’s over.” he said as he led her to a conference room, three men were there and seeing that, Laura knew that she got into deep shite this time.

Chapter Text

Toronto Police Station, Toronto|Morgue, Toronto

“Oh.” Laura said, making him turn, “Stick to your statement and you’ll be fine, okay?” he asked, and hearing that, Laura had started to think, started to plan on her escape as the officers looked towards him, “I got to– I got to use the washroom.” She told him, “Lieutenant.” she added on the end, Scott watching her as the man decided, “All right. Get yourself sorted.” The Lieutenant told her.

Hearing that, she started to walk– “Detective.” The Lieutenant said, making her turn to him, “Yeah.” she asked, “Washroom’s this way.” He ‘reminded’ her, “Right.” she said, going to walk away from there and into the new direction, Scott keeping his eyes on her as Laura went to walk into the washroom, there was a female officer there, but Laura was already starting to plan on how she was going to get out of this.

The officer had left and seeing that, she walked through the stalls, making sure that they were all empty before calling the phone, thinking and thinking and thinking before there was a voice mail that annoyed her, “Bobby? Avs’ a cop. I’m a cop, Bobby. Abort.” She told him.|But it was too late as Bobby approached the body with Romeo going on the other side, both a little hesitant.

“This will be shocking, Bobby,” Romeo tried to warn him, “But, for her, it was instant.” The mortician told him, “Okay?” “Okay.” Bobby said as Romeo removed cloth for him to– “Oh, my God! I… Oh! That’s… that… that’s so…” he started to say before seeing that there was a woman that was identical to his sister as he cocked his head, seeing the bullet hole, the scars, the– “All right, I can’t. I can’t do it.” he said.

“You got… I need to… That’s too mess up. I can’t.” he told Romeo who went to the other side for him, “It’s okay. You can lean on me.” he said, the boy starting to feel calm now for some reason, “All right.” Bobby said, looking towards the body as he held onto him and watching.|Seeing that she wasn’t able to get to her brother, Laura had to do something else as she saw the shampoo, HATING this.

Laura had taken the item from the mirror, unscrewing it, the woman took a sniff, the taste always annoyed her as she began to smell it, the woman hating this little gag before drinking as much as she could get away with.|“Thank you.” Bobby said as Romeo had given him a cup, taking a breath, “Morgue water. Delicious.” he tried to joke towards Romeo who spoke.

“Is it her?” He asked, sympathetically towards the man, “Yeah.” he assured, “Your sister. I’m very sorry.” Romeo said to him, “Foster sister. But we were very close.” Bobby said, starting to get a bit colder as he began to get nervous, “You know, we spent all our, um, formative years together.” Bobby told him, “Right.” Romeo said, nodding as he started to think about what was next.

“Okay, well, there’s a few things you need to sign.” he told Bobby, going to get the clipboard, “Um… But if you um… If you need… want… anyone to talk to, “ he said, making Bobby a bit confused as he realized what he was saying, “You know, over a drink or…” he said which made Bobby smile as he realized what was happening, “Well, aren’t you an odd duck.” he told the mortician.|

Laura had left the scene and as she did, the Lieutenant had approached, taking her arm, he guided her to the boardroom as Scott watched, at least before the boardroom doors were closed, “All right, statement of officer Avery Connor, entering into record her version of the line–of–duty shooting, 7 October of this year.” the man in the center explained towards Laura.

“Resulting in a civilian fatality, on Margaret Chen.” He explained with Laura trying to find context clues on what that meant, “In your own words, please. Begin by stating your name.” The man in the middle told them, making Laura look at the camera, the microphone, there was silence which made the officer look, “Any time, Detective.” he said, and that was when Laura used her move.

Hospital, Toronto

Scott Summers  and Avery Connor had been sitting by each other as they considered what that meant, “I panicked. What do you want me to say?” Laura asked Scott, “Pretty much anything but ‘I panicked’.” Scott explained towards the woman, making him look away while Scott gave her a look, “I’m kidding.” he told her, making Laura give him a look, “Where’s your wit gone?” Scott asked of her.

Hearing that, the woman started to get some ideas about Avery’s personality, “You haven’t called me dipshit all day.” Scott told her, “You don’t have to babysit me, dipshit.” Laura said, trying out what she thought Avery would sound like, “I know.” He told her, “But who else would?” The man asked, making Laura a bit worried, “Thanks, Doc. See you next week.” someone said as Laura rubbed her knuckles.

“Look, Avs, I know this thing has got you all twisted up,  but you got to forgive yourself.” he told her, she couldn’t see his eyes, but his face was sincere, “Shootings happen. To whoever’s there with the gun in their hand.” The man said which made her think on what that meant, “Dr. Bowers will see you now.” The Receptionist said as Avery started to think on her next move.

Drake Residence, Toronto

Bobby was painting a portrait for himself, one of Avery and as he continued to do so, there was a bit of inspiration before all of a sudden, someone had banged on his door, “Bobby, open the goddamn door!” Thomas shouted out towards him and hearing that, Bobby took a breath, composing himself before going to the door, icing up and walking over, “Bobby, I know you’re in there! Open the door now!”

Bobby had slid it open, angry as he went to snap him, making sure to put some frost on his face with said slap, “Ooh!” he snapped, his aura stopping his body from freezing up, “You bastard.” Bobby said to him before going to leave him at the spot, “What the hell is wrong with you?” Thomas asked him as Bobby fell onto his couch, annoyed as he looked away, “Huh?” He asked.

But as he said that, THomas started to look around, “Where’s Laura?” he asked of her and hearing that, Bobby got ready to answer, “Laura’s dead.” he told the man, making Thomas chuckle, “Sorry, what?” he asked, “She’s dead.” Bobby told him, “Ev. she killed herself.” The Cryokinetic told him, “Yeah?” Thomas snapped towards him, “Bullshit. Where is she, Bobby?” Thomas asked him.

“She shot herself in the head and let her body fall onto the track in front of a train because you are such an arsehole!” he said, ice started to make him seem more elemental than human, pushing him back in anger, giving him the paper Romeo gave him, “What’s this?” He asked, “Her death certificate.” Bobby told him as Thomas read it, “Bullshit. It’s not real.” He said, giving it back, the man not believing it.

“I identified her body.” he said, holding the mans cheeks, slapping him every time, “Ev, she’s dead, she’s gone!” He snapped as Thomas pushed him back, “Okay, Bobby, stop. Stop! Stop it!” He snapped, grabbing him by the wrists and shaking his wrists, his aura starting to glow now, barely able to control it as ice started to form all around them from the pair, “She told you to say this? She’s not dead. Where is she?”

Morgue, Toronto

Romeo had pulled the sheet to show the body once more to them, Thomas starting to cry at the sight of her, sniffling, “Stupid… so stupid.” he said, trying to keep himself controlled as Romeo and Bobby both watched, “Laura.” he whispered in grief before going to hug her tightly, crying towards the corpse as Bobby approached, patting him on the shoulder  as best as he could.

“Could you please leave? I need to get back to removing the bullet fragments from her skull.” he said and hearing that, the man started think before there was a tray that had some sort of strange red metal inside of it, the sight of it was… off, why would she use something that looked so different? Bobby having more to report to his sister after he dealt with Ev.

Therapist’s Office,  Toronto

“It’s not coming back to you?” The woman had asked of Laura, “Hmm, no, not really.” the girl told her, “Uh, I know I shot a civilian.” she said as the therapist had looked at the file, “Maggie Chen, 44, single, church–goer.” She told her, “I’m just missing, uh…” Laura said, trying to figure out what she’d do as the girl tubbed her knuckles, a problem she habit she really needed to break.

“Missing what? Explain.” The Therapist ordered of her, “Uh… Myself? Um…” she started to say, looking over the woman, seeing how she wasn’t writing anything, how the woman seemed unimpressed with her explanation, “Yeah, I’m… I glitched, uh… break, or something.” Laura explained and hearing that, the therapist looked as she started to notice her rubbing her knuckles.

“I think I need some, you know, leave.” Laura said, she needed to get herself resituated, “You’re under suspension.” The therapist reminded her, “Right.” Laura said, taking a breath, clearing her throat before trying to hide her knuckle, they always hurt more as she got more anxious, “Ahem. See, I’m having trouble with detail, so I;m not sure I should say anything at all.” Laura told her.

“It’s okay. It’s all confidential.” The Therapist told her as she continued to write, making Laura think, “Have you shared any of these dissociations with JP?” She asked, “Yeah, no, we’re fine. I don’t want to talk about JP.” She said, she’d find out about him later, “JP’s away.” She said, “No, he’s in Cleveland.” The Therapist said, trying to take a moment as The Therapist spoke.

“Avery, uh, a waitress makes a mistake at work. She, what? Drops a plat of meatloaf, doesn’t get a tip.” she started to say as Laura tried to think, “Hmm.” she said, “Try to separate ‘mistake’ from ‘result’.” which Laura tried to think, “Getting back on the job, for you, is all about moving forward from a moment you can never take back.” She said as Laura got annoyed, “You need to talk to me about that moment.”

But Laura had no idea what that moment was, and it made her annoyed, trying to figure out the clues, “About seeing cell phone and reacting ‘gun’.” which made her think before Laura realized that she needed to make a plan, “Can I make another appointment?” she asked, making the THerapist give her a look, but Laura had gotten what she wanted, and she was going to solve whatever this was.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

Laura had been sitting on the floor, looking over every file that she could find about it when the second phone went off, the inbox showing that some person was sending messages to her as her brother came forward, “So, your twin, all hopped up on cop tranquilizers,  guns down an innocent Chinese lady holding a cell phone in her hand. Is that true?” he asked of her as Laura saw that this person was anxious.

“I don’t know.” Laura told her brother, “I’m not even sure her partner knows.” The ravenette told him as Bobby took a swig, “Feels like she’s lying about something.” she explained to him, “With 75 gran in a new account? She’s well dodgy.” The man told her, “Yeah, whatever she was into, it drove her bloody nuts, yeah?” she asked him before taking a swig, “Yeah, suicide’s thrilling, agreed.” Bobby said not wanting to think about it.

“But, can we get the elephant out of the room?” he asked her, “What?” Laura asked, confused by what he was asking about, “Well, look at her.” Bobby told her, the two of them observing the picture, “What?” she asked, wondering what he was trying to get to, “You’re related.” He said, “This could be your story.” He told her and hearing that, Laura sighed, “It’s not.” she told him, New York was her story, and she hated that story.

“Every foster kid dreams of their lost family.” he said, making her annoyed, going to walk away, not wanting to think about it, “Deep down, we all hope we’re special.” he told her, “I mean I am, living Winter Wonderland here.” he said to her, “Yeah, the last thing I am is special.” Laura told him, she was a baseline kid that needed some metal rods in her wrists and feet when she was seven.

Annoyed with her brother, she had pointed towards the picture of Avery’s lover, “If that was my boyfriend, I’d shoot myself before getting run over by a train, too.” Laura told him, “Don’t say that.” Bobby said to her, “Paul’s hot and you know it.” Her brother said, the two of them always fighting over boys back before she figured out she was a double agent, “Oh, Ev is keening like a banshee. He wants a funeral.”

That annoyed her, “You can’t have a funeral.” Laura said as she went to open up a bottle for herself, “The whole sad point is nobody would notice if I died.” she told him, “What’s this? Birth certificates?” Bobby asked as he examined them, “Gabrielle Kinney, Avery. Katja Obinger. Born in Berlin.” Bobby said as he checked over all of the dates in there, “Laura, their birth dates are all within a month of yours.” he said.

“It’s a coincidence.” Laura said to her brother, taking them away from him, “I don’t care.” she said as Bobby tried to see her tells, if she wasn’t interested or lying, “It’s just a score, Bee.” She told him, “Let me finish what I started and then I’ll come back for you and Rina, yeah?” she asked him, but he didn’t seem that happy, “Oh.” he said, realizing what was happening, “You’re going to disappear again?” he asked her.

“Yeah, I have to, Bee.” Laura told him, “There’s dangerous shit in this life.” and hearing that, Bobby got upset, “Somebody keeps texting Avery.” Laura said, “Oh, texting. My God, how terrifying.” He said to her as he got his jacket, “Look, Bee, launder the money and keep half of it and give the other half to Rina, yeah?” She asked him which made him angry as he turned on her.

“You left Rina with Mrs. K overnight and you didn’t come back for ten months!” he snapped, there was a pause, both of them looking each other over, “I’m trying to fix it.” she told him, “Tell it to the angels, Laura.” Bobby warned, “You’re already dead.” As he left, Laura took another sip as she tried to figure out what exactly her next move was now that she had found herself in this situation.

Laura had been packing, having just gotten out of the shower, the woman was starting to check on what she was going to have to do until hearing something, the door was getting unlocked, “Shit!” she snapped in annoyance, thinking on what she was going to do, “Avs!” a voice said, sounding almost french, “Avs.” The voice said as e got up into the room where she was trying to look… not like she was trying to leave, “Hi.”

“Hey.” Laura said to him, remembering that she was Avery right now, as the woman looked, she had to admit that Avery at least had SOME taste, “The Clash?” he asked of her, making her realize she was still wearing one of her shirts, “Oh, yeah. Uh… ‘London Calling’.” she told him “The Clash rock.” but that semed to not convince him, “Yeah, but you don’t.” he told her, making Laura think on what was next.

“Going somewhere?” he asked her, “Uh… uh… no. Just gym stuff.” Laura told him before deciding to try and split focus, “Weren’t you coming back on the weekend?” she asked of him, “Well, I wanted to be here.” He said, approaching, getting close, “So?” he asked, “Yeah?” she asked of him, “How was the hearing?” JP asked her, “Oh. Uh, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it.” she said, trying to walk away.

“You skipped it?” he asked her, “No, um… I… I got sick to my stomach. I basically puked on them.” Laura said to him, backing away into the kitchen as she told him, “Are you serious?” Jean–Phillipe asked of her, “Yeah.” she said, taking a few more steps back, “Yeah. Don’t worry. I’m okay.” she told him, “Avs, what’s happened?” Jean–Phillipe asked of her.

Making her sigh, “A lot.” Laura said, REALLY wishing he waited until the weekend to get here, “Yeah, I know, but you’re…” he started to say to her, “I’m what?” she asked, going to one of the cabinets before closing it up, “What’d you do to your hair?” he asked, seeming to notice her dyeing, “Uh…” She started to say, “Nothing.” she told him, “I got it cut.” she said, “It’s longer.” Jean–Phillipe said.

Gently grabbing a strain, “It’s just wet.” she told him, but he wasn’t assured, instead he touched her cheek, thumb on her chin as he spoke, “Something’s different.” he told her and hearing that, Laura had decided to go with her last most, she moving forward, she pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms around his neck as she started to help him get dressed, “Bedroom.” he said, picking her up and moving.

At least before she stopped him, confusing Jean–Phillipe at why she was stopping– “Right here.” she ordered, pushing him to the island, the two of them resuming as she got onto his lap, pushing the man down and stripping off her shirt, the woman started to think about what exactly she was getting herself into now that she went ahead and did something VERY stupid.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto/Drake Residence, Toronto

Getting up from her bed, Jean–Phillipe was asleep, she headed into the closet, the woman was trying to think on what her next move was.|There was a banging on his door which was annoying the cryokinetic, “Bobby.” a familiar voice said, annoying him, “For crying out loud.” he said in annoyance, in a short kimono as he walked over to unlock it, “Bobby.” he muttered in grief just as Bobby looked at him.

“I’m sorry, man. I don’t know where else to go.” The Mutant told him, “The men’s shelter? Back to New York?” He asked, happy to get rid of him as he noticed the wounds on him, “What the hell happened to your face?” he asked, thinking that his aura usually healed him when he got hurt, “I got in a fight, good thing the asshole knew martial arts.” he said to himself, “Why, Ev?” Bobby asked.

“Why are you such a dick?” Bobby asked him, not in the mood, “I don’t know. I’m angry.” he said, looking around, “Can I come in?” he asked, “No.” Bobby told him, but he didn’t listen, “Thanks.” he said, using Bobby’s cryokinesis to freeze up and as he did, his wounds started to repair themselves, Bobby annoyed as he shut the door, “I can’t sleep.” Thomas said as he fell onto the couch.

“I keep seeing her face.” he said, “Yeah, me too.” Bobby told him, annoyed, “Her pretty face.” he said, pausing a moment before the well dressed man lifted himself enough to look at Bobby, “Bobby, you and me, we have to do something.” he told Bobby who was getting more and upset, “There’s just no goddamn closure, bro.” Thomas told him, “We have to have, like, a… a memorial send–off, or something.”

Bobby, upset with Laura, considered what he was saying and smirked, “Okay, Ev.” he told the man, “We’ll have a wake.” he said, sitting on the couch with him, “Really? See, that’s what I’m talking about, Bobby, a coming together.” Thomas said, glad, “Yeah.” Bobby said, “Cremation’s today. I’m buying.” he told a crying with hoy Thomas, “Oh, shit.” he said, “Yeah, it can’t be today.” Thomas said.

“I got to call Matthew and that bitch Kiden and all her New York Friends are going to want to be here.” Thomas told him, “No. No, no, no, no, no, no.” He ordered, “Locals only, Ev. Fast and light, all right?” he asked the man, “It’s going to be an intimate memorial piss–up.” he said, making the continue to sob, “Okay.” he said, his heart feeling like it’s breaking, “Come on, let’s go.” Bobby told him.

“Can I– Okay! That’s…” he said, trying to move the man along as calmly as he could, “Thank you.” Thomas had said towards him, “All right, um… you know what? First, though, you need a shower and a Xanax.” Bobby told him, “Okay.” Thomas said, his aura barely flickering as the two of them started to move.|Laura had walked out and as she did, making sure that she had her bag, the woman checked the wallet/

Going to steal the paper when she felt some hands on her waist, “Mm.” he went, “Ah! Oh.” Laura said, realizing what was happening, “For real?” he asked her, “That was amazing.” The man said towards as he felt her body, “Was it?” Laura asked him, “We haven’t had that action for, like, two years.” he told her, still naked as he kissed her cheek, “Uh, I got up for the gym, JP.” she told him.

Getting a little bit of distance as she went to walk off, “Okay.” Jean–Phillipe said to her, “Well, you want to tell me what happened at the hearing?” Jean–Phillipe said to her, making Laura think on her response as she put on a jacket, “Uh, I choked, I guess, um…” she started, unsure what she could say, “They reconvene in a couple days. Don’t worry about it.” She said and hearing that, Jean–Phillipe seemed to be curious.

“Avs.” he said to her, “Hmm? What?” Laura asked, “Are you back on the meds?” he asked her, “No.” she whispered towards him, “Then you didn’t choke.” He told her, “You’re just finally feeling something. Feeling like the real you.” he said, going to get close and kiss her but she couldn’t be distracted by a very– VERY attractive specimen, “I got up for the gym.” she told him, picking up her bag.

She started to walk off before deciding she needed some wheels, “Are you driving today?” she asked him, “What?” JP asked,  unsure what she was asking, “Uh, can I borrow the keys to your car?” she asked of him, but that only made him smirk, “Use your own car.” he told her, “I can’t find my keys.” she deflected, “Did you check the thing where they always are?” Jean–Phillipe asked.

“Yeah. Yeah, I checked the thing where they always are.” She said, that made JP smirk as he walked over to a box where they kept the keys most likely and pulled it out, revealing the keys, she snapped them from him and before he could start kissing her again, she left the house, “Okay.” She thought to herself, looking at the keys and pressed the button, setting off a car beep.

“Useful.” She thought to herself, going to the car that was there, the woman had walked over to the vehicle, tracing the part of it before she had started to put her gear in her trunk, unaware that Scott Summers was watching and following, the woman unaware that he was trailing after her and as the car began to follow after, the Mutant started to wonder what it was that she was planning.

Bank, Toronto

“Bobby! We can’t part angry this time. It;s not good for your skin, okay?” She asked on her phone, waiting for the others, “Okay? Call me, or I’ll squeeze your bloody bollocks in a vice, you little–” she started to say before seeing the bank manager there, “Everything all right?” he asked of her, “Yeah, obnoxious English relative.” she told him, “Oh.” he said, accepting it.

“Well, I’ve got your cash.” he told her, dropping a bag in front of her, “I just need your signature here.” he explained to the woman, thankfully, Laura had made sure to practice as she went ahead and started to write it down, making sure that it “A. Connor.” as the man checked her signature with her license, “All right, we’re done.” He told her and hearing that, they were done as Laura took the money, putting it in her bag.

“Here.” he told her, “Okay.” Laura said as she finished up with her bagging of the cash, “Good luck with that run.” she told him before leaving him there, she had her cash, she had her family at the ready, now she just needed to go find Bobby, tell him that she had the money, and then they can make sure that the three of them could leave happy and together away from any of their problems.

Drake Residence, Toronto

Laura had gotten out of Avery’s car, still unaware of Scott following her, the woman went to walk upstairs just as his neighbor closed the door, Scott meanwhile had gotten out, curious to figure out what was going on as he picked the lock to her car and open up while Laura entered her brothers room, “Bee?” she asked of the empty place to figure out what was going on while Scott opened up the trunk.

The she was searching while he found the money, unsure what she was planning while Laura had found something that was annoying her, “Robert.” she said in annoyance, using his government name as she saw the memorial for herself, “You little shit.” she snapped towards him, knowing this was probably because of Thomas, but still, she was NOT happy about this at all.

‘Laura’s’ Memorial, Toronto

The friends that they could get on short notice here in Toronto had gathered around a small fire by the river, looking it over as Thomas who was holding her urn had read off a letter that he had, “Laura had a big heart.” He told them, “It was always fight or flight with her.” Thomas continued as they all listened, “You guys remember how she was, right?” he asked of them, the rough sorts that had been crying for one of their own.

“The is all based on facts.” he said, but most of them were silently disagreeing, she was always different when he was around him and they hated that, “She was the kind of person you want to hang on to, but she would not be held, would she?” He asked the group as Laura watched with binoculars, “Laura, I’m sorry.” Thomas said as Bobby’s phone started to go off.

“I know I have a lot to answer for.” he said, all of them trying to focus as Bobby let the phone go off, “My favorite moment–” he said as Bobby answered the phone, “So,” he said on the line “Is it Heaven or hell?” he asked as Laura REALLY wanted to beat his ass for this.| “I didn’t want a funeral for this very reason, Bee.” she told her brother.|“Well, you can’t do much about that when you’re dead, can you?” he asked.|

“I’m watching right now.” she told him.|“Really? Oh, well.” he said and hearing that, he was a bit embarrassed.|“Pathetic.” she muttered to herself.|“Let me ask you… I dressed Ev. How do we look?” he asked her.|“Yeah, not as good as Rockabilly Bob.” she told him, glad that some things never change, “I know! Still ROckabilly, after all these years.” he said, circling him.|“Got to respect that.”|

The woman laughed as she focused on the others, “Sherry’s upset, though, in’t she?” she asked of him.|“Oh, yeah, she thinks Ev pushed you into offing yourself with a bullet and a train.” he said towards her, “It’s priceless, really.” he told his sister.|“Eh, I got the money, Bee.” she told him, “I still want us to be together. It can work, yeah?” she asked of him, “This is our chance, for me, you, and Rina to start over.”

That made him take a breath, “Laura–” “Bobby, do you mind?” Thomas asked of him, “I’m trying to– do you want us to go and come back?” he snapped, his aura started to flare, “Shit. I’m sorry, I… Ev’s getting mad. I gotta go.” he explained to his sister, Can you hang up the phone?” Thomas asked just as a car started to approach.|“Oh, shit!” Laura said as she saw a car starting to approach.|

“What?” he asked her.|“Mrs. K is there, Bee.” she told him.|“Shit.” he said, the Cryo starting to freeze up as he ran over to the car approaching, “Stop! Stop! Stop!” he said, REALLY not wanting to freeze up the car and have Mrs. K angry at him again.|“Oh, shit. No, no, no, Bee.” Laura said as she saw Amiko Kobayashi, their foster mother, come out of the car and talk to him, just another woman and two children.

“Oh, shit.” she said, looking at her daughter after so long, “No, Bee, Rina’s there.” she said, getting upset, her knuckles starting to hurt more and more from the thought of what was going on, “Uh… she can’t think I’m dead, Bee.” she told him, but there was nothing there, “Bee?” she asked of him, looking through the binoculars and seeing Bobby approaching Rina as the boy and a woman looked onwards.

“Oh, my God, she can’t think I’m dead.” she pleaded, her knuckles getting more and more painful as Mrs. K had helped Rina back in as well as the boy there, the woman with pink sunglasses had looked towards Bobby before going to join the others there, Laura didn’t know who this woman was, but she did know that this was too much for her so she went to Avery’s car to try and think.

The woman had went to sit in the car, trying to think on what was next before all of a sudden, the back seat had opened up and saw that there was a redhead who barged into her car, making Laura on guard, wishing that she had a knife or gun as she saw it was someone identical to her, “Avery. Avery why don’t you respond to me?” The woman asked in a German accent.

But Laura was not in the headspace for… for whatever this was, so she went to leave the car, “Avery!” The german started to say, “Just keep away from me.” Laura warned, her hands and her feet hurting, the pain always made things worse, “Avery, it’s Katja.” She said as Laura tried to think, but the pain was getting really bad, almost as if the rods were trying to break through her hands and feet, “Oh, my God. Holy shit.”

“Why no meeting, Avery? What happening?” The redhead asked of her, “Uh… I brought the briefcase, ja?” Katja had asked as she approached, “The samples for your friend, Avery. I was careful, like you said.” She told Laura, making her more upset as she tried to keep some distance while the German circled, “Yeah, just stay back.” Laura warned the upset Katja, “I’m Katja. Katja Obinger, Avery.” She told Laura.

“Yeah, I get it, the German.” she said to her, “Okay? I’ve seen your birth certificate.” she said which made katja nod, “Ja, you asked for it, for proof.” she ‘reminded’ her before coughing, covering her mouth with a cloth, revealing blood which was making Laura more upset about what she was seeing, “Please, I need to see your scientist friend, Beth.” Katja begged towards her.

“Uh, I can’t help you.” Laura said, trying to close the door on the woman, but she had gotten into the back, “Get out of the car!” Laura ordered, the pain more than she ever felt before, “Why are you doing this?” Katja asked of her, “Your partner, he was following you.” Katja told her, making Laura recall that vehicle, “You were the one in the black car?” she asked of Katja, “The one that flashed your lights.”

“Ja.” Katja told her, making Laura think, “You need to go.” Laura warned towards her, “You’re police, Avery.” Katja told her, “We need you–” “Don’t!” Laura snapped, her accent slipping, “Get out.” she said, trying to look away while Katja seemed to realize what was happening, “Just one. I’m a few. No family, too. Who am I?” she asked, but Laura had no idea what she was saying, “You’re not Avery.” Katja told her.

But that seemed to be the last thing as all of a sudden, there was the crack of a rifle and a hole in the car, someone had killed Katja, a clean bullet hole before they tried to shoot her, terrified, Laura had started up the car, driving as far away and as fast as possible as they continued, “Oh, God, shit!” she shouted as a new phone went off, next to Katja, she had no idea, no idea at all as both went off, so she answered, “Hello?”

Chapter Text

Toronto, Ontario

The woman had kept going before she stopped, her tires screeching in the halt as she awaited whatever help as she got out, “Avery, where have you been?” A voice on the other end had asked, “Uh, where have I been? Um…” Laura said, trying to coordinate her thoughts, but the pain was too much, her brain was trying to go fight or flight with her feet and knuckles hurting SO much, she couldn’t help but make a fist.

“Uh, long story.” she said, to the other person, “Well?” The stranger asked, “Well, what?” she snapped, really not having an idea what she was supposed to do, “Did you meet the German?” She asked of Laura who looked at the car, “I can’t get ahold of her.” And hearing that, Laura had no idea how she was going to tell her this, “Avery? What?” The woman asked.

Deciding to just get it out there, Laura told her, “The German’s dead.” She said to them, “Dead?” The person asked, confused, “Yeah, someone shot her, right in front of me!” she snapped, starting to feel two pinpricks, “Oh, Jesus! Are you all right?” The woman asked, “NO!” She started before trying to unclench her hand, “No, I’m not all right.” Laura said, “She is in the back of my car. There’s blood everywhere.”

Trying to just state the facts, “Holy shit. Holy shit, it’s true.” The woman told her, “What?” Laura had asked of her, “That someone is killing us.” The woman who was there on the phone said, “They must’ve followed her from Europe.” And hearing that, Laura started to get angry, “JESUS BLOODY CHRIST!” She snapped.

“What?” The woman had asked in confusion, “Nothing, Nothing, nothing.” Laura told her, “Okay. Okay, okay, okay. Dod you get the briefcase?” The stranger had said so Laura went to the back seat to check on the corpse, “Uh…” she started to say, “Avery?” The stranger asked, “What?” “You know what, worry about that later. You need to get rid of the body.” The person asked.

“How?” Laura had asked, the pain making her focus, “I– I–” “Like, how?” Laura asked of her, “I don’t know.” The woman said, “You’re the cop. Like, buy a shovel.” The person said and hearing that, Laura went of the trunk and started to think, “Just make sure you get her samples.” The woman said towards Laura, “Uh… samples?” Laura had asked of her, “Hair and blood, Avery.” The unknown woman said.

“You can do this.” She told her, “Uh… how about you come help me?” Laura had asked of the woman, needing more to know, “I would if I could.” And hearing that, Laura was all the more curious, “Look, one step at a time. I’ll call you back.” The woman said before hanging up and leaving Laura with a body, so she took the blanket from the trunk she found and threw it on the body.

Taking a breath, trying to think as the phone was pocketed, Laura tried to think what she was going to do, there was another woman that looked like her dead, a mystery caller that wanted hair and blood, and someone was hunting them? It was just– just so– ‘SNIKT!’ all of a sudden, there was pain in her hands and feet, making her look down to see she now had six metal blades coming out, “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

Quarry, Toronto

Laura had went to drive up towards a quarry, it was private property, but Laura didn’t care, grabbing the shovel and getting to work, the whole claws thing was a problem, she liked those shoes and as the woman thought about her claws and the fact that there was so much, it made the woman made her thinking about what she was going to do next, she definitely needed to talk to her Bobby.

Drake Residence, Toronto

The memorial was set up, and all of her loved ones in Toronto as well as Bobby and Ev were there, Bobby stroking the urn, “Sorry, Avery Connor.” He muttered quietly as one of the men there had spoken up, “Freaks and punks, lost puppies…” Rockabilly Bob said towards them all, “We always had a friend in Sarah.” Rockabilly said as Jubilation Lee, the woman who was renting a room for her and her son listened.

“You have a few words, Bobby?” Rockabilly Bob asked as he took a sip, “Hm? Mm.” he went, looking towards the whole group, “Anything you want to express?” he asked the man, “Uh, no, I– I can’t, Bob.” Bobby told him, “I’m too… verklempt.” The Cryokinetic said towards them, Jubilee watching them as Ev seemed upset, Bob stood up before them all, “We’re in bummed–out city…” he told them.

“I plead your mercy and your pity, is not life a mirror maze?” Rockabilly Bob quoted towards them all, “To Laura.” he told the whole group who each complied, “To Laura.” They shouted out, “To Laura.” Bobby said and hearing that, Ev spoke, “I can’t figure out WHY she killed herself.” The man told them, annoying Bobby, “It's just not Laura.” he told them, “It’s not Laura.”

And seeing that he would possibly fuck things over, Bobby was about to say something to calm him down when Ev spoke again, “Well, at least she had love.” he told them and that was the straw that broke Bobby’s back, “Whose love did she have, yours?” The Mutant asked of him, annoyed with him which made Jubilee curious, “Love–” Ev started as he cleared his nose, “Is imperfect.”

“Love is imperfection itself.” The man said and hearing that, Bobby couldn’t help himself, “If that’s your definition, no wonder she jumped.” He said and hearing that, Ev got up in rage, his Aura starting to flare up as he grabbed the man, “Shit!” he snapped, Bobby starting to freeze up his arms with Ev counteracting with some pyrokinesis, “Whoa, whoa, take it easy!” Bob shouted.

The two of them fighting, his cold and Ev’s now heat were starting to hit the others there, making things damp, “Let him go, Vic!” One of the women shouted out, “Say it! Go ahead, say it’s my fault!” Ev shouted, starting to choke him, “Say it’s my fault!” The man said, “It’s… your–” Bobby said towards him when there was a spark between them before it sparked and blasted Ev off.

“Okay, calm down, asshole!” Jubilee snapped as she glared, Rockabilly Bob helping up Ev while Jubilee, another Firework at the ready as she helped up Bobby, “Everyone’s raw. It’s okay.” He told them, “Great, then he can strangle you next.” The mother said to them, “All right.” Ev said, clearing his nose again as Bobby glared at him, “I’m sorry.” He said, offering his hand, but Bobby snapped it away.

“My bad.” He said, offering his arms as they watched, “I’m not a huggy griever, Ev.” Bobby snapped towards him, still having his ice coating him as he walked by, Jubilee following him, “Thanks.” He told the woman, “No problem, the guy was a dick.” She told Bobby, making the man smile towards her, both unaware that Laura was still working on the body of Katja.

Toronto, Ontario

The woman had found a hose, some bleach, and Laura had been scrubbing like a madwoman, getting rid of whatever evidence she could, power washing and pulling out some replacements, “Eh, uh, what time do you open?” Laura asked, needing to replace window who answered, “Uh… I need a front and driver’s–side window.” The woman told him, making sure that she was scrubbed clean.

Drake Residence, Toronto

Bobby had been annoyed as he waited for the last guest, “Ev, I’m tired.” The man said with a glare towards him, Jubilee not wanting to leave the pair of them alone in case they tried to kill each other again, “One last drink. A bourbon for Sarah.” He told them, “Oh goodness, Laura.” Bobby muttered in annoyance with Jubilee checking with Mrs. K to see if Shogo was okay.

He was and they each took a glass, “Oh. Oh, Jesus.” Bobby muttered as they sipped, “Very good.” Ev said, watching them both taking a drink, “Okay. Off you go.” Bobby told the man, not in the mood, “Wait a minute. My turn.” He said and hearing that, Jubilee started to get ready to help Bobby, “God!” Bobby went in annoyance as the American started to think about leaving.

The man took a deep sip and before they could, “I want to get to know Laura’s daughter.” Ev said and that put them both on guard, Bobby because he was her uncle and Jubilee because she grew attached to Rina, her son’s friend, “Out, Vic!” Bobby snapped, “Agreed, I will atomize your ass if you don’t go.” Jubilee told him, “Why not?” Ev shouted in annoyance.

“There’s a reason you never met her.” Bobby told him, “What is it?” Ev asked him, “Well, let’s see. For starters, you’re a toxic son of a bitch who gaslit my sister and kept her in New York.” Bobby told him, “I could help her financially.” Ev said to him as Bobby sat down, “And Laura left you. She ran because you’re abusive. And you isolate. And you treat people like boosters instead of people.” Bobby snapped.

But instead of arguing, the man had put his hand on Bobby’s face, high on something that made Jubilee get up, ready to– “All right, let’s go.” Bobby said, the man trying to get him up so Jubilee went ot help, “Let’s go.” The man said with both of them making sure that they were okay, “Felix,” Ev said as Jubilee made sure to help, “I want to stay connected to her.” Ev told Laura’s brother.

“To who? Who, Ev?” Jubilee asked, not sure what he was saying, “Her.” Ev said just as the door was opened and the two got him into the hall, “Ev, Rina is not Laura.” The man said, “Laura’s dead, and she’s not coming back. You need to man up and accept that.” Bobby told him, but it seemed nothing was getting to him, “Bobby?” Ev asked and Jubilee was ready to start lighting him up, “Hug me.”

But Bobby just slammed the door, leaving the pair on there, “That was… please tell me that isn’t your sister’s type.” Jubilee told him.|Laura had been walking up the stairs, tired and having washed herself, the woman just wanted to– there was Ev who was slamming on the door, making her flinch and hide away from his sight as a obviously out of it Ev had started to walk, falling in the process.|

Jubilee had been helping Bobby with his apartment cleaning, the Cryokinetic looking at his sink, annoyed with the people, “Oh, come on.” He muttered as Jubilee had been picking up the garbage, just as the door opened, “Ev! I Will be more than happy to give you Third degree burns! And Bobby seems happy to make you into a popsicle!” The woman started before seeing who it was.

“Uh… hi?” Laura said to the woman who she recognized from the memorial, “Hi, one second, BOBBY!” Jubilee shouted as Bobby walked into the area confused, “Shit.” he said, looking woman while Jubilee was shocked by the sight, she knew there were shapeshifters but the reaction from Bobby said a lot, “Aren’t you supposed to wait, like, three days before rising?” He joked.

“How are you so calm?” Jubilee had asked him, “Your sister is alive!” Jubes told him as Laura looked to the pair, “What the hell’s this? And who are you?” Laura asked, “That is your wake.” Bobby told her, “And this is Jubilation Lee, she’s renting a room for her and her son at Mrs. K’s.” Bobby said, “Hi there, I’m usually more excited but we just had a funeral for you.” The woman said.

“The wake though, it was agony.” Bobby said with Jubilee nodding, “Yeah, HOW did you date that guy?” She asked, “Ev? Yeah, I saw he was here. Bobby, why’d you have one? And why are you still here?” Laura asked Jubilee, “Because I was mad at you, so I just decided to blow all the money from your stolen money on it.” He told her, making him realize what he said.

“Hey, I’m not in a position to judge.” Jubilee said, making the two of them relieved by that before Laura took a deep breath and asked an important question, “Does she– does Rina think I’m dead?” The woman asked, worried about her plan and neither could give a proper answer, “I don’t know.” Bobby said, “Oh, you don’t know?” Laura asked, approaching him as Bobby backed away.

Jubilee knew that he could take care of himself and honestly, she wanted to see what was going ot happen, “Ev screwed everything up when he got hold of Mrs. K somehow.” He told his sister who went to sit on the couch, “I don’t know what she told Rina.” Bobby said, “I do.” Jubilee told them, making the pair look, “She said that Laura was going to be out of town and she couldn’t see her as soon as you promised.”

That was both relieving and horrible, “Great, so I’m alive but I ran off again, great!” Laura snapped as she took off her jacket, “Ev.” she muttered, “Yeah. Since you died, he’s even more obsessed.” The man said, “He’s also not healing like he used to.” The man said, thinking why, “He wants to meet Rina.” Bobby said to Laura who started to get angry at the idea of him going near her.

“No!” Laura said, a ‘snikt’ heard that made both Bobby and Jubilee confused, “No, I know that!” Bobby said to her as Jubilee noticed her hands and feet, “Of course not. You think we’d let that happen?” He asked her, “I wouldn’t either, so you can put the claws away.” Jubilee told her, making Laura look down at her hands and shoes, “Shit.” The woman said, trying to put them back in.

“Jesus! Where’d you get those?” Bobby asked of her as he saw the six claws, “And what’s that?” he asked, Laura, having been able to retract her claws on her look, “Right there. Well, it looks like…” “It looks like blood.” Jubilee said as she went to the sink to get a rag and some water, “Hey, whoa! What’s going on?” Bobby asked as she stood up, Jubilee already coming back with a wet cloth.

“Nothing.” “Hey! You have claws now, there’s blood, it’s a lot more than that.” Bobby said to her, “Uh, I don’t… Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.” Laura told him, “Well, you should, unless you want me to tell Mrs. K that you faked your death.” The woman said, making the pair look at her, “And don’t try threatening me with your claws or your ice, I’ve dealt with worse.” Jubilee said to her.

Hearing that, Laura gave a looked towards them both before deciding that she was going to have to reveal a few things, “Bobby, you remember those birth certificates, yeah?” She asked of Bobby, “Avery’s and two others?” Laura asked, “Yeah, Katja and Gabrielle.” Bobby said, “Um, who are Avery, Katja and Gabrielle?” Jubilee asked, “Well, Avery and Katja looked identical to me,” Laura told her.

“That’s how we were able to fake my death, Avery shot herself and went under a train.” Laura said, making Jubilee confused, “Well, I met the German.” Laura said, which made Bobby look at her surprised, “What? Is she… another twin?” He asked, Jubilee confused, “Yeah.” Laura said, starting to pour a cup for herself, “Leave it out, you two.” Laura told the pair, but neither could resist.

“Did she say who she was?” Bobby asked her, just as curious as Jubilee, “Did she tell you about the claws?” She asked, “Don’t.” Laura told her, “What did she say?” Bobby said, both of them so curious, “I’m not getting into it. I can’t…” Laura said, one of her foot claws popping out as she sat, “All right, fine.” Bobby said, Jubilee sitting on the couch with Laura and looking at her claw and her knuckles.

“Both of you, stop.” the woman ordered, but neither one was going to, “Look, I need one of you to tell Mrs. K I’m not dead, yeah?” Laura asked of them both, hoping Jubilee was on their side, “That it was all a mistake.” “No! No way. You do it.” Bobby told Jubilee who scowled, “Yeah, I don’t trust you and her to make another scheme together, so either you or Laura tell her.” Jubilee said.

“If I walk in there now, after ten months, think how hard she can make custody.” she said, making Jubilee pause, remembering how hard it was for her to keep Shogo after Budapest, “What, so I go in and I say what?” Bobby asked them both, making Laura think before answering, “Lie?” She asked, causing Jubilee to scoff, “You think that will make things better?” Jubilee asked.

“One of you should just tell her it was this Avery girl. As long as Rina knows her mom is fine, it doesn’t matter.” Jubilee said to both of them which made Laura smile, “Thanks.” she said to Jubilee, “We can still get out with her if we play this right.” Jubilee told them before grabbing her coat, “That’s my one bit of good news.” Laura said, giving the bag in her trunk to Bobby.

“Is this evil twin’s money?” Bobby asked, “Yeah, $75,000 in cash.” Laura said, making Jubilee whistle in surprise, “That’s enough to lose Ev, lose the twin sister weirdness, just somewhere safe with my daughter.” Laura told them and Jubilee could understand that, she wanted the same for her and Shogo, “Is that so much to ask?” Laura asked as Bobby pulled out a series of files.

“Yeah, maybe.” he told them, making the two confused, “What?” Laura asked as a card fell out, Jubilee taking and reading it, “Detective Scott Summers.” she said, “What?” Laura asked again, even more confused as she saw her money wasn’t there, “He must’ve followed me and nicked it.” Laura told them in annoyance, “And why would a detective be following you?” Jubilee asked.

“Avery, the twin I’m posing as? She’s a cop and Scott’s her partner.” Laura said as she got angry, the claws starting to come back, “All right. All right, let’s not go off, though, okay?” Bobby had asked, but she wasn’t going to listen, “No. Hey, let’s– No, Laura!” The man shouted as she slashed at a piece of metal, tearing it apart, “Laura!” he shouted as she cut another, “Laura!” He shouted.

Jubilee had wrapped her arms around Laura, trying to keep her from destroying the rest of the residence as she attempted to keep the claws from anything precious, “Bastard!” The woman shouted, “Bastard!”  she shouted as Bobby got in front, already Ice so that her claws wouldn’t hurt her, “Laura! L–!” he started towards her, “Laura! My house isn’t a junkyard where you can break whatever you want.”

Hearing him say that, calming down a bit, the woman looked around and saw that there was damage all around, panting she tried to look at the woman behind her, “I’m good… I’m good now.” Laura told Jubilee who let her go, “Thanks.” Bobby told the woman before he went to the case that Scott left and read the name on it, “Maggie Chen.” he said, “Who the hell is Maggie Chen?” he asked.

“Uh, it’s the woman Avery shot.” Laura said to them, pulling the claws back neither Bobby or Jubes seeing any holes as they seemed to seal up on their own, “All right, so, now, what are these, all right?” He asked, the three of them sitting down and reading, “Official statement.” Jubilee said, “Detective Scott Summers, official statement.” Bobby added as he read his own.

“Detective Avery Connor–” “Official statement.” Bobby said with Jubilee figuring what he was going to say, “What is this?” The renter who somehow seemed ready to help them asked, “This is– this is, like, the case.” Laura told them both, “He left it for me.” Laura told them both, “Her.” She added, already knowing what he wanted, “If we want the money back from Scott, I have to be Avery again.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” Bobby said, annoyed, “How long can you keep gaming a cop?” Bobby asked, “Well, if we’re talking Hollywood, a few months as long as they don’t follow you back to where you’re squatting.” Jubilee told them, “So you can help me game him, till I get the money back?” She asked Jubilee, “Why not? I don’t want Rina to wake up and learn her mom’s in prison.” Jubilee said.

Glad for that, Laura got up to call someone, “It’s 6:00 a.m. you’re going to call him now?” He asked, “Yeah, believe me… this call, he’s waiting for.” Laura told them as she dialed him, waiting until he answered, “Took you a while.” Scott told her on the other end, “What the Hell are you doing?” She asked, the accent change a bit surprising as Jubilee watched the woman.

“Hey, I’m just following orders, Avery.” Scott told her, “Orders to steal from me?” The woman asked, “Lieutenant said ‘Take your rookie by the hand, walk her right through the hearing’.” Scott told her, “Did you stop to check it before you crossed the border?” Scott asked which made Laura all the more annoyed, “Art, I’m at home! You got it all wrong.” Laura assured him.

“I never get it all wrong, do I?” Scott asked of her, “Well, it’s not what you think.” Laura told him, “Meet me at Fung’s at noon.” Scott ordered of her before hanging up, “Fung’s?” Laura asked in confusion, but there was only a dial tone, “What the hell’s Fung’s?” Laura asked of them, “Nice place, I have the address.” she told them, “Great, you’re with me.”

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

Jubilee had gone with Bobby for a bit to check on Shogo as Laura walked in, “JP?” she asked before walking in, closing the door and– “Where were you last night?” JP had asked, “Aw, shit!” Laura said in surprise, not knowing he was there, “Don’t do that!” The woman said, trying to be calm so her claws wouldn’t pop out again, that was something weird she needed to put a pin in.

“I… I, uh… I was at the station.” Laura lied to him, “I was catching up on this backlog.” Laura told him, “You’re under suspension.” JP told her, “Yeah, sp? They reconvened the hearing.” the woman told him, “I have to get on top of this stuff.” The woman kept saying, trying to think on what she was going to do, but Jean–Phillipe hadn’t accepted that.

“First you screw me wild for the first time in months, and then you don’t even call me to tell me that you’re out all night?” he asked of her, “And why are you suddenly dressing like a punk–rock ho?” he asked and she did NOT like the sound of that at all, “Say again.” Laura snapped at him, covering her right fist as she asked, feeling the claws starting to pop out.

But he stayed silent, “No.” she muttered, “You know what? Don’t.” the woman told him, taking her jacket off, “I’m going to ignore that.” Laura snapped as she tried to focus, “I’m worried you’re losing the plot again.” Jean–Phillipe had told her, “We’ve been here before.” he said which made her look, “No, Jean–Phillipe, we definitely haven’t been here before.”

His mouth had twitched as his eyes examined her, “Sorry. I’ve got work to do.” Laura told him, collecting the files, “If you want, I can take it to the station, yeah?” she had asked of him, “Avs, you’re not ready for this. You need to take more time.” Jean–Phillipe had told her, “Is that a diagnosis?” She asked him, “Because I have plenty of professional help for that.”

He paused before trying to gently touch her, “Babe, please–” Don’t touch me.” Laura snapped, thinking of Ev and– and him, the man man lifting his arms, backing away like he was before a startled animal, “You know, I can see this shooting is killing you, but you stopped talking to me months ago.” JP told her, “JP.” Laura started, unsure what she was supposed to say.

“I mean, what am I supposed to do?” He asked her, starting to sound angry, “It’s my problem.” Laura said as she watched his face, thinking that the expression was familiar to her, “You don’t have to take this on.” Laura told him, “Well, I have.” JP told her, “And I can’t keep waking up every night, checking your breathing, worried you’re mixing meds, booze, God knows what else, so…”

Laura worried about what he was going to say, “I’m going to my brother’s for a while.” JP told her and that felt like a golden opportunity for her, “Okay.” Laura told him, that seemed to be the wrong response as he looked towards her with confusion, so she tried to recover, “Yeah, if that’s what you want.” The woman told him, trying to look hurt or upset.

Thankfully, he had seemed just upset enough to leave without bothering to ask for more, grabbing a jacket and a bag that were by the door before he stormed out, as he did so, Laura started to think what she was going to say, “Punk–rock ho?” She thought before the woman had started to get back to rehearsing for Scott and whatever else.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto

Bobby had been cycling up through the neighborhood before stopping in front of his foster mothers home where he saw his niece waiting, “Oh. Hi, monkey.” Bobby said to Rina, “Did you see my mom?” The girl asked, “Oh. Um, sweetie…” Bobby started to say when Amiko Kobayashi had walked in and saw them, “Oi–oi, Mrs. K.” Bobby said to his mom.

“Go on upstairs, Rina, love, Shogos ‘s looking for you.” The woman said, making the girl smile as she ran towards the house, leaving Mrs. K with Bobby, “Uncle Bobby has got some explaining to do.” the woman said with a glare as Bobby sullenly followed after, “And you can explain why Jubilee decided to get roped into whatever you two are planning.”

“I knew it was too good to be true.” The woman said as she prepared some tea for them both, “ローラは自殺するほどタフではない。(Laura's too tough for suicide.)” Amiko had said, “私が今まで引き取った中で最も野生的な女の子。(Most feral girl I ever took in.)” She told him which Bobby shrugged in annoyance– “Don’t shrug.” Amiko told him.

“Staging a funeral to get away from Everett. Why would you help with such a stupid plan?” annoyed with them, “Tom’s a toxic dom.” Bobby said, as she said that, Rina and Shogo had both started to walk downstairs, “Plagued, that girl was from the very start.” Amiko said as she started to get into it, “What do you mean by that?” Bobby had asked her, but Amiko was annoyed, “Tell her.” she said.

“That she hasn’t seen her daughter in almost a year and I think it’s best if it stays like that, I don’t want her to drag Jubilation down with her.” liking the American, “アミコさん、あなた自身で彼女に伝えてみてはいかがですか？(Why don’t you tell her yourself, Amiko?)” he said, “I’m not going to play Bobby in the middle.” “Oh no?” Amiko had asked of him.

“You’re here at her beck and call, aren’t you?” Mrs. K asked of him, “Yes, I am! To make sure that Rina doesn’t think that her mother’s dead.” Bobby said, starting to freeze up, “And, oh, good, look… she doesn’t.” Amiko hearing that, and then she had looked away, “You and Laura, you can work out the rest.” The Mutant said to her, “And Jubilee’s an adult, she can take care of herself.”

Hearing that, Amiko took a breath, “Years of my life.” The woman said as both Rina and Shogo had looked around the corner, “Leaving London, all my people there, to bring the two of you here for a fresh start.” The woman had said to him, “I’d do it all again, Bobby. Every missing person’s report, every punch we threw, because Rina is a gift.” Amiko told her son.

“Laura knows that.” Bobby had whispered towards her, “No, she hasn’t a clue.” The older woman told him, “There’s more than that she doesn’t know, but she’s trying. Badly, granted, but in her own way, she is, she’s really trying.” Bobby said to him when there was a floor creak, making both of them turn and look to see the pair, “Ohh.” Bobby said, putting on a happy face.

“Caught ya both.” He told them, making the two kids nervously smile, “C’mrer. C’mere, monkey. Shogo.” Bobby said towards them both, liking the boy as they had both come in, Shogo standing by Mrs. K while Rina sat on Bobby’s knee, “When is Mommy coming?” She asked Mrs. K, Shogo looking towards her as well, curious as the woman gave a smile, “You know when, love.” she said.

“When she’s ready?” Rina answered, “And?” Mrs. K asked, “When you say she’s ready?” Rina asked, “Sounds fair to me.” Mrs. K told them as Shogo looked towards her, “Where’s my mom?” he asked and hearing that, Bobby spoke, “She’s… helping with acting lessons.” Bobby told him which made Mrs. Look towards him, wondering what ‘acting lessons’ they were working on.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto|Fung’s, Toronto

Jubilee had come in to act as Scott, spreading things, “So, where did you see Yip?” Jubilee had asked the woman, “Right here.” Laura told her, “That is where I thought I saw Yip.” Laura told her with Jubilee nodding as she went through whatever questions she could think of.|Laura had walked in, full Laura as she walked in.|“That’s when I drew my weapons.”

“And what exactly did she do?” Jubilee asked her.|Laura walked to the booth where an anxious Scott was, “It’s not a payoff, Scott, it’s not.” she assured him, “Then cut the shit, Av, and tell me where it came from.” The officer told her, making Laura take a breath, “It’s JP’s, okay?” she asked him, “It’s JP’s and mine. I cleaned out our joint savings account.” she told him.

He scoffed towards that, “I haven’t told him yet.” Laura told him, “Yeah, I was going to leave town, but I couldn’t do it, okay? I turned around.” and hearing that, Scott wasn’t assured, “For JP.” he said, “To clear the shooting, Scott.” she told him, “I’m not dirty, I just freaked out.” there was a small moment before he grabbed her wrist, “Are you wearing a wire?” he whispered, making her pause.

“No!” She whispered back, “You never saw the vic before?” Scott asked, “No previous contact with Margaret Chen?” He asked, “No! Scott…” he said as officers walked by, “If there is another version of the story, if that money is somehow connected–” “There’s only one story, Scott.” she said and for a moment, he paused before letting go, “Then walk me through it again.”

Chapter Text

Fung’s, Toronto|Connor Charles Residence, Toronto

The Detective opening up the file so that he would be able to read it, “So I know you won’t crack under questioning.” Scott told her and hearing that, Laura got ready to answer him, “I was by myself, I was canvassing witness on another case.” She told him, “Which case?” Scott demanded.|“The Ramsay thing.” Laura had told Jubilee as they continued their questions.

“Sun Jewelry heist.” Laura told her.|“The Ramsay thing.” Laura said in perfect Avs, “Sun jewelry heist.” making Scott close the file, “I wasn’t even looking for Yip.” she admitted to him, “Yip who?” Scott questioned of her, “Xan Yip, U.S. racketeering warrant. I’d seen her sheet that morning… Asian female, 41.” Laura told him as she recalled it.

“And?” Scott asked, still not convinced, so she opened the file once more, “Annd… right here…” Laura said, pointing.|“Is where I thought I saw Yip.” Laura told the woman who had nodded, “You thought?”|“You thought?” Scott had asked, “I did. I saw her.” Laura told him, “I called her name, I told her to freeze.”|“She didn’t. She ran.”|“Disappeared down…” Laura started to say, hating this.

“You’re making me nervous.” Laura told him, “Good.” Scott said to her, “Now you know how it feels.” he told his partners imposter, “When did you draw your weapon?” Scott asked her, “I drew when I entered the courtyard, here.” She told him.| “That’s when I drew my weapon.” she told Jubilee.|Laura now tracing the path for him to follow, “And then she disappeared down there.”

Scott still staring as she recounted it, “I crossed to there. And that’s when I heard somebody behind me.”|“And I turned around…” Laura said before she had gotten and made a finger gun and fired, “Stick to the script.” Jubilee told her.|“And I fired twice.” Laura said, remembering what they drilled, Scott seemed satisfied as he revealed the images of Maggie for her to witness, one after the other.

The last one revealing the last scene that had a phone and showing her mistake.| “They were both wearing black.” Laura told her, “It wasn’t her.”|“It wasn’t her.” Laura said, whispering the last part and hearing that, Scott kept glaring, his eyes glowing, “Then what?” Scott had asked, “Then I saw the phone in her hand and I called it in.” Laura told him.

Hearing that, Scott seemed a little bit fine with that, “ANd then you showed up.” Laura told him which was the right answer, “If they found out you called me before you called it in, Avs, they’re going to start to dig.” He warned towards her, “And if they dig, they find the pills  and if they find the pills, you may crack under questioning,” he said, in a rant at the moment.

“And tell them that I put the phone in the vis hand to cover your tweaker ass.” he snapped towards her and hearing that, Laura had an idea, “I wouldn’t do that, Scott.” Laura told him, taking a sigh, “I got to carry what I did.” Laura said towards him as she tried to simulate guilt as best as possible, “Maggie Chen was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Laura giving a look to him as she finished, “That’s it.” she said to him, leaning forward to tell him the last part, “None of this ends up on you.” Laura promised to Scott and hearing that, he whispered, “Good.” he said towards her and hearing that, Laura thought that she was in the clear– “But to be sure, I’m going to hang on to that money until you’re cleared.”

That was all they needed to hear, it was a problem, “How’s that?” Scott said, looking and she took a small inhale before leaning back annoyed, “Sounds really good.” Laura said to him, trying to be as calm as possible as he claws had begun to slowly pop out once more, the woman still needing to find an answer as to why they were popping out.

Drake Residence, Toronto

Laura had come in and found that Jubilee and Bobby were there, “Rina’s fine.” Bobby had said towards the woman, “You’re not dead to your daughter.” she said before getting hugged by the woman as Jubilee looked towards them, glad as Laura started to sob in joy, “I know. I know.” He said as Jubilee patted her shoulder, “I get it, I don’t want Shogo thinking that.”

The sentiment was appreciated as they watched, “She knows I’m back, doesn’t she? I can feel her.” Laura said towards the pair, “She’s knows. She’s been asking for you.” Bobby told her, making Laura glad, one of the few things that DOES make her happy, “She knows. I know. Jubilee knows.” Bobby said, “Okay, what about Mrs. K?” Laura asked.

“Don't worry about that now, okay?” Jubilee said, “Jubes is right, we’ll work it out later.” He assured, “Thank you. Both of you.” Laura told them which made the pair relieved, “Just take us with you when you leave again.” Bobby said as Jubilee looked towards them both, “I promise, I promise, I promise.” Laura assured the man, “All right. Do you want a cuppa?” Bobby asked.

Hearing that, Laura sighed, “Yeah.” She told her brother as Jubilee went to sit with her, “So Scott won’t give me the money until I clear Avery’s shooting.” Laura told the pair, “What? Like you’re going to head back and be in front of a police board, like with a Lawyer and cross–examination?” Jubilee asked, “Yeah.” Laura said as the phone went off again.

That made the trio look as Laura put it on the table, “That’s the least of my worries.” Laura told them, annoyed as Bobby looked, “That’s Avery’s other phone.” He said, “Is that the German?” Bobby asked, “It’s definitely not the German.” Laura assured them as it kept ringing, “All right, I think it’s time you tell us what’s actually going on.” Bobby told the woman.

“Avery was investigating her twins, too.” Laura told the pair, “I think whatever she found out drove her to suicide.” She explained, “What?” Bobby asked, “So do I pick up?” Laura asked, “NO!” Jubilee and Bobby said, “Do you want to kill yourself if you hear it?” Jubilee asked, “I can’t help myself.” Laura said to them, “Then why even ask?” Bobby asked now.

“Because there is something more, like these.” Laura said as she popped them again, it still hurt, but she was still ready to find out, “Hello, uh, this is, um, this is Avery.” Laura said as the woman on the other end spoke, “Finally! Where have you been?” The other woman had asked, “Busy, obviously.” she said, “Right.” The woman said, “Did you get the German’s briefcase?”

That made the three look at each other, “No. Why?” Laura asked, “Because I told you to.” The woman said and hearing that, Laura shook her head, feeling a small headache, “Where is she staying, Avery?” The woman had asked, hearing that, Laura had went to her purse, “Hello?” The woman asked, “One sec!” Laura said before finding the card.

“Okay… Uh, Carlsborough Hotel, Room 303.” she said, “Well, go, get the briefcase before they do.” The woman said and hearing that, Laura wondered who ‘they’ were, “I’ll call back at midnight.” The woman said to her, “What’s in–” but it was too late, the line was cut off, “What’s in the briefcase?” she asked of the others, “More importantly, who is that?” Bobby asked.

Making Laura think, “Every time I think I know something, I’m wrong.” Laura told the pair of them as she got ready to move, “Whoa, hold on.” Bobby said, checking the information that was on the documents they DID get, “Avs… Katia. And Gabrielle Kinney. Is it her?” Bobby asked him and hearing that, Laura shook her head, “I don’t know, Bobby.” she said before getting up.

“Well, what happened to the German?” Jubilee asked of her, but she didn’t answer and instead went to the wardrobe, “Are you seriously going there?” Bobby asked, “Don’t you want to know what’s in the briefcase?” she asked, “No!” Bobby said to her before having an idea, “Cash?” He asked, “Maybe another clue.” Jubilee added.

“It’s still a hustle, Bee.” Laura said to her brother, as she put on an outfit, “Can I borrow this?” she asked, her accent changing to German, “No. Yeah. I don’t know.” Bobby said to her, “Guten morgen. Katja Obinger” Laura said, always having a thing for languages as Jubilee had an idea, “Doesn’t hurt to have backup.” The woman said to them both.

Hearing that, Bobby sighed, “Laura, Jubes.” he started, “Don’t worry.” Laura told the man, “You actually look kind of hot.” He told her, “It’s good, innit?” she asked, switching back to her herself before looking towards Jubilee, “Well, are you going to join?” she asked with a smile that she saw made Jubilee smile back almost on instinct it seemed.

Carlsborough Hotel, Toronto

“Nein, nein.” Laura said, making Jubilee nod as she was walking with her, “Okay, just go in and get out.” Jubilee told Laura as they continued to walk, “Miss Obinger.” a man said, making the two keep walking, albeit a little faster than before, “Miss Obinger?” he asked again as the two of them had reached the door, “Miss. Obinger!” he tried one more, “Miss Obinger!” he said before motioning for a guard.

Before he could get close, the two of them had entered the elevator, “Was that her?” “Yeah.” The two members of staff had started as they had escaped from there, “Any idea?” Jubilee had asked of Laura, “No idea.” she muttered, the pair of them thinking what they were going to do if anything had went after them as the two of them arrived on the third floor and entered Room 303.

“Well, someone’s been here.” Jubilee said as they observed the area, seeing the damage, how someone had torn through the luggage, the two searching with Laura noticing that there was a headless doll and the word Truth had been written into a bible, making them all the more curious on what that could mean before all of a sudden the phone started to ring, that made the pair look at each other, thinking.

They had decided to ignore it and still search, at least before hearing a knocking on the door, “Shit.” Laura said, her claws starting to pop, Jubilee had started to ready her fireworks, starting behind the corner as Laura had went to open the door, “Ja.” she said, going back into German, “Hello. Avery, from the front desk.” the man said, “Could we talk with you downstairs, please? Your friend can come.” Avery said.

“Why would you go in my room?” Laura asked them, “We had a noise complaint, which led to a security check.” Avery said to them both, “Ma’am, your room was trashed.” he informed her, “Rock ‘n’ roll.” Laura said to them, “Rock ‘n’ Roll?” a guard asked, so Jubilee answered, “Yeah, loud music,” Jubilee said, “I like to get loud and–” “The sink is broken. What the heck is wrong with you two?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, we have an itemized bill.” Avery said to them, “Sink mirror… three pillows.” he continued, revealing the price to be $6,437.11 which both were surprised by that, “$6,000?” Laura asked, “$6,437.11, yes.” He told her, “Ja.” Laura said to them as she pulled out some money and seeing that none of it was good for Canada, “So? You have my card on file, ja?” Laura asked of them.

“Yes.” Avery told her as the woman looked at the card and had an idea, “And my briefcase.” she told them, hearing that, looking at the card, the annoyed guard looked and walked off, “One moment.” The concierge said as he typed away and looked, “Authorizing.” he said, it sounding nervous, “Must’ve been a heck of a party.” he told them, “Well I was pretty happy in the end.” Jubilee said, making him nervous.

“Uh– o–okay, Everything appears to be in order.” he told them, handing the papers to Laura, “I’m very sorry about this.” he continued as Laura signed it off, “Are you enjoying the city?” He continued to ask, “It’s killing me.” Laura told him, grabbing the case and walking, thanking them before the man spoke again, “Oh, and a man claiming to be your foster father wanted you to call him.”

Hearing that, he offered a note with a number, “Ja– Danke.” she told him before the two of them walked off, “Foster dad?” Jubilee asked, “No clue, but he’s probably going to be looking.” the woman said, neither one knew who, but what they could tell, someone by the name of Christoph Nord might be coming along if they were not careful, he might come in and find out what’s going on.

Toronto, Ontario

Laura had come out into a parking lot along, Jubilee having gone to check on her kid and Rina, Laura used a valid method and started to break into the briefcase, having learned the trick with a knife when she was in New York, the claws on the other hand worked wonders as it sliced through as if the metal was butter, opening it, she looked inside, found pictures, blood samples with names too, “Danielle Fournier.”

Opening up a paper with a print of a passport, “Katja.” She thought, seeing it and then another for an Austrian, an Italian and another for Danielle Fournier, glad for that, the woman had gone to a folded paper, one part had Beth Childs and her address, the other was Gabrielle Kinney, “Scarborough.” She thought, surprised how close she was, they were practically local to her.

At least before the cell phone rang again, “And punctual.” She thought before answering it, “Hello?” she asked, “Hey. Did you get to the hotel?” The woman asked, “Yeah, but somebody got there first.” she said to her mystery caller, “They ransacked her room.” she said, turning on a flashlight to look it over, “Shit! No briefcase?” The woman asked her, “I didn’t say that.” she told them

“Did you find it or not?” The woman asked of her, “Hang on.” she said before taking a deep breath, she could lie, could try to keep it up until it was too late, or she could be honest and risk getting screw over, but could have the chance to learn more about herself, like the claws, “Screw it.” she muttered in annoyance before speaking, “Hello? Who am I speaking to?” she asked.

“Avs?” The woman asked, “Gabby?” she asked, thinking, but the person didn’t seem in the mood to answer, “Who is this?” She asked her, “WHO is this?” The mystery woman asked again and Laura took a deep breath before continuing, “Avs’ indisposed. Is this Gabby?” She asked the person, but instead of answering, She gave a riddle instead, “Just one. I’m a few. No family, too. Who am I?”

“Yeah, sorry Riddler, means nothing to me.” Laura told her, walking away from the case before continuing, “Look, Avs said to say I have the briefcase. Do you want me to bring it to you?” she asked the woman, but instead of answering, she hung up, seeing that, Laura took a breath, glad that she at least had Scarborough to look into as Laura went back to her car and started to get ready for the drive.

Bailey Downs, Scarborough

Laura in her car had been driving and saw herself in a cookie cutter, she drove towards 35 Black Oak Drive, getting closer towards the house before turning a corner and seeing a garage, she kept it in park, watching as a Red Station Wagon had came out and started to drive away, Laura had no idea who this Gabby was, but she continued to follow after her, making sure to keep a distance.

As the woman had waited, she saw the red car stop in a parking lot with a soccer field in front, Laura had watched, waiting as she saw that three people had come out of the car, two boys who were fighting each other, “Stop it!” “You stop it!” “You stop it!” they continued, “Hey, hey, hey!” a woman started to say as she came out of the car, looking almost identical to Laura, only she had some… some scarring on her face.

“No, no, no no.” The woman continued, “Wade, don’t hurt Taylor.” The woman said to her, “Holy shite.” Laura thought as she saw what looked like a soccer mom version of her, “Follow your brother. Don’t run.” The woman told her children as Laura continued to watch, seeing this copy of her work with the kids, “Good boy, good boy.” the woman said as she blew a whistle.

Acting so suburban, at least before she picked up her phone, “Hello?” this woman said, most likely Gabby said before losing her spring, “Oh.” she went, seeming tense, looking around, “Go. Go, GO!” She said to another woman before taking a breath, “Anna! I’m going to cut the… yeah.” Gabby said, making an older Auburn haired woman look at her confused.

Gabby took some oranges and walked into a little shed, seeing that, Laura took her chance, getting out with her hood on, the woman had looked into the window and saw nothing, curious, Laura had walked in, quietly, looking around with some caution, she wondered where this– the other door had opened, making Gabby gasp when she saw her, claws popping, “I just want some answers.” Laura told her.

“Who are you? Where’d you come from?” Gabby asked, claws aimed at her as Laura made sure she was looking calm as Gabby marched forward, making Laura back up and having her back hit the wall, “You know what? No. How dare you show your face in front of my children.” Gabby told her, claws aimed towards Laura, "How did you find me?” Gabby whispered towards her.

“The German had your address.” Laura said, swatting her arm and making Gabby glare, “I– I’ve got what you wanted, “I’ve got her briefcase.” Laura told her, making Gabby smile, “That’s great, but do you know why we need it? Do you know why it’s so important for you and us?” She asked her and Laura had no idea, “Where’s Avs? She should have told you.” Gabby told her, 

“Uh, she’s dead.” Laura told her, making Gabby pause, “What?” she asked, claws popping her claws again, “I’m sorry. She killed herself.” Laura told her which made Gabby seem to get MORE upset, “No. No, no, she wouldn’t do that.” Gabby said, scratching at her tear stain scars, almost seeming like a nervous habit more than anything else.

“That’s impossible.” the woman continued as she backed away, turning and thinking, “No, I’m sorry. I saw her do it.” Laura told Gabby who turned back to her, “No, that can’t be. Mm–mm. She figured it out, she can’t die.” Gabby started, “Look, I can explain, okay?” Laura asked her, “My name’s Laura–” “Great to meet you, sorry if I’m a but upset now but AVS IS DEAD.” she snapped.

“Come on, come on we can think of something else.” the woman said as she thought about what she could do, “I never wanted any of us to die. Do you just do the opposite of what I pray? Do I wear a hug ‘kick me sign on my back?” Gabby had asked the roof, and seeing her little meltdown, Laura saw a chance and tried to risk it, “Please, just tell me… who are we to each other?” She asked

Gabby turned, looking her in the face, “Wait, really?” Gabby asked of her, “I kind of thought it was obvious.” the woman said as she started to mutter to herself, “You know, you need to get out of here.” Gabby had told her as she packed up the sliced fruit, “Go and wait for a call.” Gabby said to her, about to leave, “Hey, tell me what the hell–” “Let go! I know how to use these much better than you.”

Laura saw the claws again and decided that she would listen, at least for now, “This is my neighborhood.” Gabby told him, “You wait for a call.” she said before going to walk out, at least before having another thought, “Oh, and hide your ugly face on the way out of here.” Gabby said, nervously laughing towards that before getting back out, “Weird.” She whispered, “Okay, oranges, guys!” Gabby said as Laura snuck out.

“Can I take two?” one of the kids asked, “Yeah, you take two.” she said, watching as Laura left, as Laura walked off and into the parking lot, her phone rang, making her sigh as she spoke, “What’s up, Scott?” she asked, “Where are you?” He asked of her, “I’m at home in the tub with a bourbon.” Laura lied, not in the mood for him, “Can you hear me knocking?” He asked her.

“No?” He asked her, “Because you’re not home.” The man snapped, “Okay, I’m in Scarborough.” She told him, “What? Why?” He asked her and hearing that, Laura thought and decided on some sarcasm, “I had to go to Bed Bath & Beyond, okay?” she asked him in annoyance, “Look, whatever, Avs.” Scott told her, “What the hell did you say to the shrink?” He asked of her.

“She’s ruling you unfit for duty.” And hearing that, Laura started to get annoyed, “What? Why?” she asked him, thinking that what she said was fine, “Yeah, unfit means no hearing tomorrow.” He said which annoyed her, “Oh, shit!” she snapped in annoyance towards that, “It means this crap goes on and on, and guess what? I’m keeping your money until it ends.” He warned.

That annoyed her, “I’ll go see her now.” Laura told him, “No, it’s too late for that, Avs.” He told the woman, “Get me another appointment, okay?” she asked, already thinking, “Tell her it’s an emergency, you’re worried about me.” she told him with a thought, “She’s my doctor. She has to see me.” the woman said to him which made Scott annoyed, “And what are you going to say to her to change her mind?”

Hearing that, Laura had a couple of ideas, “I’ll figure something out.” Laura said before hanging up, thinking what she was going to think before recalling that there was a few things that she was going to have to pull some nasty moves of her own so that she’d be able to get through this and make sure that their scam was going to go through as smoothly as possible.

Therapist’s Office, Toronto

“I’m sorry. My opinion is you’re not ready for duty.” The woman said to her as she sat in front of her, “I am, though.” Laura told her, “I’m making progress, full progress.” Laura told her, “Go on.” the Therapist said towards germ waiting for her answer, “You know, with the guilt, uh… seeing cell phone and reacting ‘gun’.” Laura explained towards the woman who looked towards her with disbelief.

“You’re just parroting our last meeting back to me.” The woman told Laura, “No, I’m admitting my mistake.” she told her, “Dr. Bowers, I’m acknowledging it, like you said.” Laura told her which made Bowers open the file again, “Honestly, the best thing for me now is to get back to work.” she said towards her, “Last time I saw you, you couldn’t remember the shooting.” Bowers had told Laura.

“'I’m missing myself’.” she said to Laura, “‘I glitched. A break or something’.” Bowers told her, using her words against her, “I remember it just fine. “Laura told her, “What I’m trying to do is move on.” she continued but Bowers didn’t seem to care, “Sorry, Avery, but considering your mental state, leading up to the incident–” “That’s behind me now, Dr. Bowers.” Laura told her.

“And by your own admission of blackout or psychotic break,  I can’t recommend your or duty.” Bowers told her and hearing that, Laura had lost the mask of Avery and of The Laura that was friendly, and went to the cold tin man, her eyes dead and her voice monotone, “That’s not going to work for me.” she said, almost sounding as if she was going to  murder her, “Avery?” Dr. Bowers said.

Looking into her eyes, the therapist had started to get scared, like a wolf was about to lunge and tear out her throat, “I– I understand, you’re a cop.” Bowers told her, hoping that would remind the woman if she was planning anything, “But this is my job.” she said towards Laura, hoping that she’d understand as Laura had pulled out a pad of her own, “Can you read that back again?” she asked, still cold.

“I’m sorry?” Bowers said, “Read. It. Back.” Laura ordered, “That I am missing myself. I glitched.” she told her, making Bowers look, hoping that she wasn’t going to– “Does that sound as if I am under the influence?” Laura asked of her, “‘Glitched’ sounds as if you are under the influence?” Bowers asked, “Tweaked, stoned, gakked, spun. Whatever you wish to call it.” Laura told her before starting her threat.

“Allevia.” Laura said, looking her straight in the eyes, “Superprax. Draxifil.” she continued on towards her, “What is the difference between a mood stabilizer and an antipsychotic again?” Laura said, her ‘jaws’ around the womans throat and she knew it, “Avery–” “I apologize, I have been confused.” She told the woman, seeming more robotic and cold with every word spoken.

“I mean, it is very confusing.” Laura told her as she leaned forward, “Antidepressants, antianxieties, SSRIs. Serotronax. That one is a stimulant.” Laura told her, remembering it from New York, “We have know n each other for a while, now, Avery–” “That is where you are wrong.” Laura told her, standing up and walking going behind the desk, making her scared.

“You have constantly tested me with your personal appeals for prescriptions.” she said as Laura put her knee between the womans legs, leaning forward, “I know.” she told her, “And I will explained to the board that the reason I had accidentally killed the civilian was due to the mix up of overlapping prescriptions, understood?” she asked and as she looked at the unflinching and terrifying woman, “Or am I making progress?”

Board Room, Toronto Police Station

“All right, if everybody is here, let’s see if we can do this again.” The officer said towards them, “The board convenes in a fatal line–of–duty shooting, October 7th of this year.” The man in the center of the table said, “State your name and rank for the record and begin.” He told Laura and hearing that, Laura went back to Officer Connor, “Detective Avery Connor.” she told the man.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto|Kinney-Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“You did well.” the woman that was there to help her said, “We’ll have a ruling in a couple of days.” She informed of Laura, “Okay.” she commented before the phone started to ring, taking it, she went to a private spot, “This is Laura.” she said to the person on the other end, “Congrats, Laura! You got the green light.” Gabby had told her, “Good.” Laura said, checking on who was around there.|

“Since you already know where I live and I can’t find a sitter, come by after 9:00 tonight.” Gabby told the new girl.|“How about right now?” Laura asked of her.|“Tonight! Bring whatever you got from the German.” Gabby told her.|“Go around back and go to the basement door.”|“Knock quietly!” Gabby had ordered of her before hanging up on her.|Laura had been a bit surprised by that, “Not bad, Connor.”

Laura looked to the Captain as he said this, “Not bad.” he told her before walking off, watching that, she had been a bit relieved before looked to a sort of relieved Scott who had been watching her, the two of them had started to leave together with Scott opening the door for her, “I nailed it, man, every detail.” she told him, “Yeah. They haven’t ruled yet.” Scott warned towards her.

“Please contain your excitement.” she told him, “This is me excited.” Scott told her, making Laura scoff, “Come on, Scott. Give me a little love, here, yeah?” she had asked of him, “Why do you have to be such a hardass?” she asked him, “Because… it’s your favorite thing about me.” he said with a smile towards her, making the duo chuckle before Laura tried something.

“Look, uh, JP doesn’t know that I took that money out of our account.” she said, “So just let me put it back before he finds out, yeah?” she asked him, “I hang on to it till you’re reinstated. That’s the deal.” He told her, “There was no deal, that was just you–” “Looking out for you, partner.” he told her, it was tense and she knew that there was no way that she’d get her money back just yet.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

The car had driven up, Bobby and Laura moving, “Ugh! God, no!” he said towards his sister, wishing Jubilee came with him, “You never know I would’ve got in without Jubes if you said we were going to suburbia.” He told her as they parked, “Oi, what are you doing?” he asked of her, “Don’t stop. Someone might speak to us.” he explained to her, “God! Christ.” he said, worried.

But Laura was focusing on the area around them, ever since the claws popped her hearing and sense of smell being better than ever before, “You know, my skin just breaks out every time I leave downtown.” he warned towards his sister, checking the mirror, “Yeah, yeah. Right there. Look… acne.” he said, making Laura sigh, “No, I don’t see acne.” she told him, “Am I blushing?” he asked, “There’s redness! Right there!” 

“Tiny, little suburban stress zits, emerging in direct proximity to bad architecture.” but Laura didn’t care at the moment, “Look, Bee, I’m going to have the money in a couple of days. Okay? And then… look.” she ordered her brother, “I’ll make good with Mrs. K and we’ll take Rina somewhere quiet, yeah?” she asked him, “Somewhere warm.” Bobby said, irony since his mutation.

“So what’s in the house?” he asked her, “I won’t be long.” she assured him, “Oh, my God! Who’s in there?” he asked of her which annoyed Laura, “Stey here, okay?” she asked, trying to stay calm at the moment, “Is it the German?” he asked her, making Laura sigh, “The German’s dead.” she told him, “She’s dead? She died?” he asked her, “Sadly, yes.” she said, “This one’s an uptight soccer mom.” she told him.

“Hey, Laura!” he said, grabbing her before she could leave, “You always do this to me!” he snapped at her, “I just need you to be my backup, okay?” she asked him, “I don’t do backup!” he snapped at her, “I don’t even know what backup is!” he told her, “Give me half an hour.” she told him, “What am I supposed to do till then?” he asked of her in concern, “Nothing.” she said, “I just need someone to know where I am.”

“Wat, that is not comforting! Laura!” he shouted, hating this side of her, “Shit!” he snapped, worried and thinking that this was a problem, as Laura entered, she looked around as the lights turned on and Gabby opened it, “Close it, lock it.” The woman said and Laura complied, doing so, she turned and saw a light and gun, thinking that whatever was with this one was really tiring.

Chapter Text

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“Really?” she asked her, hands up in surrender, looking towards Gabby, “Shush, my kids are sleeping.” Gabby said to her, “You’re going to shoot me while your kids are sleeping?” Laura asked her, “You wake them or show your face, yes, I will shoot. And then I’ll tie you up before you wake up.” Gabby said, confusing Laura even more, “Well, I’ve never known a blood relation, but being your twin certainly sucks.”

Hearing that, she almost laughed, “You really have no idea, do you?” Gabby asked her before someone else– “Hey.” another one like her, only she wore glasses and had braids, appeared in front of her, “I’m Zelda.” she told a shocked Laura, “Bloody hell.” Laura said to her, “We talked on the phone.” Zelda told her as Laura wondered what was going on, “How many of us are there?”

“Okay, define orphan, Laura.” Zelda said towards Laura who ha sat down, trying to wrap her head around… everything, “Orphan, orphanage.” Laura said towards her as Gabby was playing Cat’s Cradle as a way to calm herself down, “So, you don’t know your birth parents?” Zelda had asked her, “No, I was fostered out, then legally adopted and I came here.” Laura told her, “When?” Gabby had asked her.

“Adopted, like, eight.” Laura said towards them, “Came here around 12 after I went missing for a week when I was eleven.” Laura said, still remembering when she woke up and Mrs. K saw her with blood on her hands, looking terrified of her, “I’m sorry to hear that… but what about Avs?” Gabby had asked her curious, “Suicide? Why would she do that?” she asked her.

“I mean, how did she do that? Did she find you? Was she stabbed with a Red Knife or something?” Gabby asked, “Wait, red knife? What are you talking about? All I know is that she left her stuff there, shot herself and fell in front of a train.” she told Gabby and Zelda, “I got stuck and ran from my own shit.” She said, making Gabby curious, “Like what?” she asked her, “Gabby, we talked about questions.”

Gabby looked towards Zelda who had taken a breath, “I’m sad about Avs too, okay? But she was… listing it, like clinically.” Zelda had said towards her, “She was a cop.” Gabby said towards her, “She could have just told us, if she couldn’t cope, couldn’t trust us, then I mean…” Gabby started before she started to quiet down, looking like she was getting more and more upset.

“Look, can you just tell me what the hell all of it is?” Laura asked as she popped her claws and seeing that, Zelda was about to, “Don’t tell her anything.” Gabby said, making her curious about that, “Uh, short answer?” Zelda had asked, “No.” The woman went, chuckling towards the woman, “How are we all related?” Laura asked, tapping her claws on her leg to try and focus.

“WE’RE not.” Gabby said as she tried to keep calm, “Well, we are, by nature.” Zelda said, trying to be reasonable, “Um, she’s referring to nurture.” and that made Laura start to get a bit annoyed, “Can you please give us the briefcase from katja?” Gabby asked her and hearing that, Laura shook her head as she pulled them back, “I’m not giving you shit till you give me some answers.” Laura told them both.

“Like what?” Gabby asked her curious, “Like maybe what we are?” Laura asked of her and hearing that, Gabby nodded, “Okay! Might as well pull off the band aid!” Gabby said to her, “We’re clones. We’re Mutant clones in some crazy experiment and someone’s killing us off.” Gabby told her and hearing that, Laura was a bit concerned, that left them in stunned silence, at least before a voice spoke, “Mommy?”

That made Laura look towards up the stairs of the basement where a girl was, “Taylor, come here.” Gabby said as she went to walk up there, smile on her face, “Who are those ladies?” The girl had asked of them, “Just…” she said, trying to think, “They’re just from a DNA test!” she said towards her daughter, picking her up, “Why did you get out of bed?” she asked as Zelda looked at her.

“Sorry.” Zelda said to her, “I wanted to float that whole clone thing a lot softer.” Zelda had told her, making Laura all the more confused about what that meant.|Bobby had been watching and waiting as he waited for his sister in the house, “Come one, Laura…” he started before there was a knock on his door, making him flinch, “Oh, shit.” he said, freezing up as he saw an auburn haired woman with a white streak.

Careful, he rolled down his window, “Hey there, Sugah. You’re not supposed to be parked here at night.” the woman said with a Southern Accent, “Um, I’m… I’m waiting for someone.” Bobby told the woman, “Well, this is a neighborhood watch block, so…” she said, smiling towards her as she walked off, “Come on, girl.” The woman said as she started to walk off from him while he sighed.

“Bitch that guards hell.” he muttered to himself as he looked at the house again, “Screw it.” he muttered in annoyance before getting out of his car and went to go and see her, getting to the backdoor and opening it, being careful and glad that he didn’t have any need for a gun.|Gabby had been walking down and heard someone in her backyard, “We are genetically identical, or whatever.”

“I– It’s actually kinda cool.” Zelda had said towards the woman as Gabby had noticed Bobby, “Um, as far as–” she started before there was a bright flash from the motion detecting lights, “Shit. Shit!” Bobby said as he started to run, “So…” Zelda started to say as she heard him, “Was there someone there?” Zelda asked her, making Laura worried about that as she got up.

Bobby jad started to move off and as he did so, there was a woman in front of him, “Oh, my God!” Bobby said as there was Gabby there with a pistol, “Freeze!” The woman said, “What are you doing in my yard?” Gabby had asked, Bobby confused about the tear stain scars on her face, “Do not shoot me, please!” he asked, “Look, I don’t want to shoot you!” Gabby told him, “Don’t.” Bobby said.

“Hey, Gabby Gabby.” Laura said as she got between them, Bobby ready to freeze them up if needed, “Okay.” Bobby said, still cold, just to be careful, “Put it down.” Laura told her, “Do you know him?” Gabby asked, looking like she wasn’t scared at all even with the tone of her voice, “He’s with me.” Laura assured her, slowly approaching Gabby, “Okay?” she asked Gabby.

“And he’s not a… not a part of whatever made us?” Gabby asked her, “Yes! He’s good, it’s okay.” Laura said, slowly approaching before she had taken the gun, “We’re all good, okay?” she asked her, “Okay.” Gabby said towards her and hearing that, Gabby nodded, “Alright, but next time, warn us, I don’t want my kids in danger.” she said before she started to walk off and as she did, Laura went to grab her brother.

“We need to get my shit. What the hell were you doing here?” She had asked starting to get out of there and as she did so, Zelda was in her path, making Laura pause and see the phone in her hand, “Hey, you need this?” Her other– other clone, had asked her, “You just broke the first rule of Clone Club.” Zelda told her, “What? Never tell anyone about Clone Club?” Laura had asked her.

She gave a look to her brother again, still ready to throw down, “Hi.” Zelda said towards his still shocked face, “Uh, awkward. I’m Zelda.” She told him with a wave as she handed the phone back to Laura, “You have my number.” Zelda advised Laura as she gave it back, “You want answers, I want the briefcase.” Zelda told her, “Seriously, it’s life or death.” she said, Laura gave a look towards her before the pair left.

Drake Residence, Toronto

Bobby had asked as he looked towards everything, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Bobby said towards them as he looked at the information in front of him, “Clones?” he asked her, “Clones?” he said again, shocked that this was their life, “They’re not me. They’re not. They’re completely different people.” she said, trying to assure herself more than him as she started to pace like a caged animal.

“‘Soccer Mum’ Laura. ‘Dreadlock science geek’ Laura. Arguable more attractive than your ‘evil’ Laura.” Bobby said towards her, “Yeah, I was there. Thank you.” She told him, “How can they be though?” Bobby asked her, “What difference does it make, Bee?” Laura had asked of him, “Last time I checked, human cloning was illegal, let alone impossible. And Mutant Cloning is ten times worse!” Bobby told her.

“Yeah, leave it out, okay? It doesn’t matter.” Laura warned towards him, “It does matter!” Bobby snapped towards her, “Dead Avery, dead German.” she said, sifting through the materials, “Those two, three other Euros, you, that’s eight.” He snapped towards her, “And dreadlocks is going on about a blood sample saying it’s life or death. You can’t just ignore it.” he reminded of her.

“Yes, I can.” Laura told him, trying to keep calm, “I’m just me, okay? The song remains the same.” she said towards him, her left arm stinging as her right had popped its claws as she scratched her wrist, cutting her, “Laura!” Bobby said, but she was already healing up, great, another thing she needed to worry about, “Doesn’t matter! We get the 75 grand back from Avery’s partner, we get Rina,” she listed.

“And we get as far away from all this as possible.” Laura said, pointing to her wrist as Bobby observed it, “Hey… do you think Tom knew about that?” Bobby asked her, making Laura confused until realizing that maybe, her healing factor might have drawn him in which made her more irritated and wondering what exactly was going on as the girl woman got ready to move and get the money back.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

Laura had prepped herself, making sure that she looked as Avery as possible, as she did, the woman looked at her reflection and asked a question, “Am I going insane?” she asked herself, wondering what was going on with herself right now as she got up, thinking about how she was going to get through all of this as Laura started to get on the move back to her clone’s job

Toronto Police Station, Toronto

Laura had walked in and saw there was a commotion, making her confused, “Hey, Avery, I thought you were still off.” an officer with pointed ears had asked, “Uh, yeah. Just can’t get enough.” Laura told him, “Um, is Scott around?” She had asked him, before he could say anything, Laura heard him, “Avs, what the hell’s going on?” Scott Summers asked her as she went to follow him.

“Uh, yeah. I gotta talk to you for a couple of seconds.” The Woman told him, he was starting to put on a jacket and the elf eared man noticed, “Hey. Enterprise?(Company?)” He asked, “Yeah.” Scott told him, so the man started to get up as well, “Look, things are bad with Jean–Phillipe.” she told him, “Okay.” Scott said, trying to sound like he was fine, “We’re dividing up our shit.” she whispered.

“Any second he’s gonna find that joint account empty.” she warned him, “Look, you get the cash when you’re back on active duty.” Scott reminded her, not backing down, “That’s the deal.” he said, taking his shades off and replacing them with a visor, she tried to follow after him when a voice spoke, “Connor.” their CO said, making Laura look towards him, “Sorry, just saying hello.” she told him.

“No, you’re not. Both of you.” He ordered, making the duo curious as they went to enter his office, “Bad news.” he said, making the pair look, starting to get them worried before he pulled out a badge and a gun, “You’re reinstated.” The man said to them, “Holy shit. “Scott said, surprised by that, “Welcome back.” The Lieutenant said to her as she took them away, “Well thank God.” Scott told them.

“Buckle up, kid. You got a 10-45.” Scott said as she took the items and thought, “Uh… hey.” she said to Scott, making him turn, “Two seconds.” The woman said, making him sigh as she went to put the gun and the badge on, “Oh… shit.” she said, annoyed as a Unie had walked in to wash her hands, “Do you want help with that?” She asked her, “Yeah, you mind?” Laura asked her.

The Unie had scoffed and left her there, not liking that, Laura had made sure she was fine with the gun holster and then checked the two magazines, she had seen them before, but she had never used a gun, she carried them, but never used them as Laura pocketed one of them and then put the other one in her gun before she went to go and help Scott with whatever a 10–45 was.

Toronto, Ontario

The two were in the car as a radio played, “Rory Road and Allster, confirmed 10–45. Forensics on site.” The Dispatcher had said to them, “So, Scott, about our deal. I’m reinstated now–” “Hey, I’m not carrying around 75 grand in the trunk, all right?” Scott told her, “Just call us in.” The man ordered of Laura, confused, she had taken the radio, hoping she wasn’t going to mess it up, “Heading for the 10–45. Roger.”

“Responder, please identify." The Dispatcher said, making Laura try to think what she heard when she was in the back, “Uh…?” she started, not knowing their number, “Fifty–Five.” Scott said to her annoyed, “Fifty–Five. Heading for the 10–45. Roger. Out.” She said, hanging up, “Copy.” The Dispatcher said as Scott gave her a look, “What?” she asked, hoping he didn’t see the truth as they kept going.

Toronto, Ontario|University of Minnesota, Minneapolis–Saint Paul

The two of them had arrived at the sight and saw that there was a private property sign, the same one where she had buried the body of Katja, “Something wrong?” Scott asked and hearing that, Laura just got out, as she did, looking around as she walked forward, the two of them went past the Police Tape and downwards, seeing the machine and the quarry as Laura sighed at the body was discovered.

“Body’s chewed up pretty bad.” Scott said towards her, “What do you think?” He asked, Laura trying to cover her nose, ever since the claws popped out, she had a problem with her senses. They were worse than before, “I think some idiot didn’t realize they were burying a body next to an active quarry.” Laura said, hating herself towards that, wishing that she wasn’t going ot be screwed over.

“Got a good tire print over there.” one of the forensic experts there had said as she approached them, “I’d say the body wasn’t in the ground more than two, three days.” She continued towards them, “Hey, welcome back.” she said towards Laura, obviously she knew Avery who she nodded towards that, “Now, this would be your industrial sausage maker.” She continued to say.

“Nice of them to lend a hand, though.” Scott said, making almost a joke towards that, both of them chuckling as Laura thought, “Prints?” Laura asked, hoping that they were okay, “They better hit ‘cause, uh… reconstructing the face is gonna be tough.” The Forensic said to them which was making Laura a bit relieved but there was still the matter of her going to be screwed, “Hey!” She shouted as Laura tried to calm down.

“Can we get the guy to open this thing up?” She asked as Laura started to worry “Uh… I need to, uh, make a call, yeah?” Laura had asked of Scott, “One sec.” she said, already walking off and as she did so Laura started to call her ‘sister’|“I can’t talk or meet. Just answer the question.” Laura had asked Zelda who was confused, “Oh, okay, okay. Um… Our fingerprints are close enough to flag a match, yeah.”|

“Why?” Zelda asked, “Avs’ partner found the German.” Laura told her, “At least part of her.”|“Part of her?” Zelda had asked confused, “Yeah.” Laura told her, “Um, I messed up when I buried her. They have a fingerprint, Zelda.” Laura explained, “Oh, wait, are you being Avery right now?” She asked, “Yes.” She said.|“Yes, I’m at the bloody crime scene pretending to be a bloody cop.”

“I need to know if the bloody fingerprints will flag a bloody match.” Laura explained to her.|“Whoa. Okay, okay. Don’t freak out.” Zelda told her, hoping that she’d be calm.|“They need to use Interpol to find the German, which is unlikely.” Zelda assured.|“But, um, if one of us had a criminal record here…”|And that made Laura sigh, annoyed with the fact she had one.|

“Do you have a criminal record?” Zelda asked of her.|“Just… petty fraud, assault, pro–fiteering, whatever. Wasted youth here and New York, all right?” Laura asked.|Zelda knew that she was hiding something, but wasn’t going to ask right now, “If the body matches me, the cop will see a mug shot of somebody who looks like Avery.”|“Only it’s yours truly, and I’m already supposed to be dead.|

Honestly, she had no idea what she was supposed to say to all of this, “Wow, wow. Welcome to the trip, man.” Zelda told Laura.|She sighed, annoyed with that, “That is not helpful.” Laura said to her.|“Yeah, okay, sorry. Just don’t bolt.” The other Clone said towards her.|“Okay, don’t bolt. They can’t run prints instantaneously, so we do have some time here.” Her ‘clone’ had assured her.

“How much time?” Laura asked her.|“Bring me the briefcase and we’ll talk. Okay?” Zelda had asked of her, hanging up, the geneticist student had been worried and thinking what she was going to do about… this with The German and the fact that Laura had something going on, it made things more complicated, but at least there was still the briefcase that could help them.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto

Laura had come in and as she did, Scott spoke, “Avs, in a bit we’ll have a time of death soon, but till then, I say we ballpark two, three days, see who’s missing.” The man said towards her, “And, uh, fingerprints? About a couple of days?” She asked him while he followed, “Yeah, you know the lab. Hopefully overnight.” he said to her as they walked, at least until she turned around.

“Uh, look, Scott, um, this shit with JP is about to go sideways, okay?” she asked him, “I need to get to the bank.” She told him, “Let me see you weapon.” He said to her, “Huh?” she asked confused, “Come on. Show it to me.” Scott asked and hearing that, Laura offered it and he took it, looking towards it, “It’s not empty.” he said to her, “Yeah, well, I know how to work a gun.” she told him.

“I just want to make sure that you’re not making mistakes." he warned towards her, “Scott, it’s a 10–45 for legs. Right, Scott? I’m not a rookie.” she said towards him, he glared, “That may be, but I want to make sure that you’re not going to screw us both over.” He warned towards her, “If this shooting messes with you, makes you trigger shy, Avery, you got–” “No, I’m not. I’m not. I’m not.” she wanted.

“I am good and I just need to make sure that I’m up to speed, for Christ’s sake.” Laura said towards him, “Get ‘up to speed’ on the desk.” Scott ordered, “I’ll work this with Beaubier. Now, get out of here.” he told her, “Hey, Scott–” “Look, if you ask me about that money one more time, Avs, I swear to God, it’s going in the shredder.” He warned towards a now annoyed Laura who was planning her way out of this.

Bar, Toronto

Zelda had been waiting, thinking as Laura approached, looking at the book she had, “Homo Superior, The Next Step. By Charles Xavier.” Zelda noticed her, “Hey.” she said with a smile towards her as Laura went to sit next to her, the duo going to look into the mirror and how they looked so similar, “You get used to it.” Zelda had assured her, “Two clones?” Laura asked her, “Yeah, I’m not buying that.” She explained.

The dreadlocked clone looked at her, wondering if she actually believed that, “How many of us do you need to meet, Laura?” she asked her, Laura judging her body language and wondering what it was about, “Can I have the briefcase, please?” Zelda had asked her, “I want some answers first. Like about the nails.” She said, not wanting to let anyone know yet, not wanting to deal with any bigots.

“You know what? The answers are in the briefcase.” Zelda said towards her, Laura had rubbed her left brow in annoyance as the bartender approached them, “Let me guess, you’re the smart one, you’re the wild one.” He said to the pair of them, “Would you believe we’re clones?” Laura asked of him, making the man chuckle, “Bourbon, rocks.” Laura told him, “You got it.” He explained.

As he walked, Laura looked towards Zelda, “So you’re the scientist the German talked about.” Laura asked her, “Uh, yes, Well, PhD student, um…” she started to say, Zelda seeming to be relieved to talk about something she knows, “Uh, evolutionary developmental biology at University of Minnesota.” She told Laura, “I’m heading back there tonight.” hearing that, Laura started to think.

“The German was sick. Should I be worried about that?” Laura had asked her, thinking about what that meant for her and Rina, “Well, if you give me the case, I’ll know in a couple of weeks.” Zelda assured her, “Do you know who shot her in the head?” Laura asked, “Okay.” The woman said towards her, clearing her throat as she tried to make sure that she gave her the right feedback.

“So, six months ago, uh, Katja contacted Avery with this crazy story about her genetic identicals being hunted in Europe.” she said to her, “Hunted?” Laura asked, thinking it was appropriate in her mind, she just didn’t want to be the prey, “Brilliant.” Laura said, sighing at the statement, “I know.” Zelda said as Laura took the drink, “So, so, Avery used facial recognition software to find driver’s licenses in North America.”

That made sense, she was a cop, so she’d have the ability to, “Two matches.” Zelda told Laura and she figured who one and two were, “You and Gabby.” Laura said to her, “Yes, right.” Zelda said towards her, “BUT who is the original?” Zelda asked of her, “Who’s created us? Who’s killing us?” The woman had continued to say, “We need to know, but we lost our cop.” Zelda stated and Laura knew what she was up to.

“So… however you managed to get into her shoes, we really need you to stay there.” and Laura looked at her curious, “Stay a cop to help you?” The mother had asked, “To help US.” Zelda told her, “Help us find out who’s killing us.” Zelda asked of her, “How? I’m not a cop.” Laura asked of her, “Avery’s partner is gonna figure that out.” She warned, “Being Avery is what got me into this mess in the first place.”

“I know, I know. I get it, I get it.” Zelda added, seeming as upset as her, “But you can’t run away from her. Look, we are your biological imperative now.” she said which made Laura confused about what that meant, “Okay? Katja’s fingerprints will match your fingerprints.” she said and hearing that, Laura started to think about what she was going to do, “So, get to Katja’s fingerprints results somehow.”

“I think that’s our only option.” She told her and hearing the request, Laura took a breath, hating that, but she figured this was the best way for her to get through all of this, “All right.” Laura said as she offered the briefcase to Zelda, it on her lap as she waited, “Just answer me one thing.” Laura said as she thought about the most important thing, “Anything, yes.” Gabby told her.

“If we’re genetically identical… do you get that little patch of dry skin between your eyebrows?” Laura asked, trying to be joking and it seemed to work, making Zelda laugh, “That’s good.” she said to Laura who smiled back towards her, “Try to keep your sense of humor.” Zelda warned, “Avery couldn’t.” and hearing that, Laura looked her knuckles, “And the ‘nails’?” she asked.

“That I do not know… but what I do know is that they’re something that whoever made us suppressed, like they were trying to hide them as rods… I haven’t set them off yet… neither has Gabby.” She said and hearing that, Laura wondered if Avery was able to or maybe if there was something else… but whatever made these so… important, they were another mystery that was a part of… all of this.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto

Laura had walked in and gave a mug to Scott who noticed, “No cream?” he asked of her, so she tossed a couple of them at him, but he seemed not caring about it as he typed away, “Booked on the range, day after tomorrow, 4:00.” he told her, “The range?” she asked, taking a sip, “The gun range. You with me or not?” he asked of her, making Laura pause, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Laura said, concerned.

“So uh, what about Jane Doe?” Laura asked of him, “Beckwith filled a bucket with fragments from the hopper.” he told Laura, “Couple solids so far. Dyed red hair, like bright red.” he told her, “And laying out the skull fragments she’s 99% sure she found entry and exit wounds.” He told her, “Shooting.” Laura stated, having been there to witness it which Scott rewarded with a nod.

“So, what about the prints?” She asked him, “Start calling.” Scott told her, “And keep calling while you clear that shit pile of a desk.” Scott ordered of her, annoying Laura as the man named JP had approached, “Hey, sorry about poaching your seat of this, eh?” he asked of Laura. “He’s all yours.” Laura said to him, making Jean Paul chuckle towards that, “Let’s go.” “Yeah.” the pair went before leaving.

At least before a phone went off, Scott took it and answered, “Detective Summers.” The man said, waiting, “Yeah, well, what can you tell me about her?” Scott had asked before looking to the others and whispering “Jane Doe.” towards them, going to put it on speak, “Hey, hey. Shh, shh.” Jean Paul ordered of those around her, “Uh, you… you want ot give me that again?” Scott asked as they all gathered.

It was now on speaker as the woman spoke, “Am I speaking to your partner now too, Scott?” The person said with a Russian accent had asked, “Actually, we love voice change apps, so uh… the whole office is listening.” Scott asked the woman, “She was just one of a few, unfit for family. Horse glue.” The woman said, the first part making Laura think and grow concerned.

“So you didn’t like her very much.” Scott said to her, “How about you tell us her name?” Scott asked of her, “She expired at Allenside Park. I saw The Канібал do it.” She said before it disconnected, “Fuck.” Scott said in annoyance, it was too short, “So, what, Stephen Hawking did it?” Jean Paul asked of Scott who thought, “No, no, no. The call came to me.” He said, thinking.

“‘Just one of a few unfit for family’.” He said with annoyance, “‘Horse glue’? Merde.(Shit.)” Jean Paul said towards the sight, “Scott, what else did they say?” Laura asked, “They asked if I was the lead on the ‘quarry body’.” Scott had said to her, “And something about a… Канібал?” he asked, “Cannibal.” Laura said to her, “How do you know that?” Scott asked her, “It’s Ukrainian, I knew some Russian and–”

“Listen, before we go, we’ll check the desk, see who took the call.” Scott said, making JP nod, “Yeah.” He said as Laura got worried, “Uh, you going to Allenside?” She asked, “Yeah. Check the log to see if there were any shots fired down there.” Scott said towards them, “Okay, look, I’ll see you in a bit. Okay?” he asked her. The two of them leaving, Laura wondered what a Cannibal meant as she went to her computer.

Looking, Laura started to think and then type away, but there was nothing, not knowing what, Laura had seen there was a member of IT working on a computer, seeing a chance, she approached, “Hey…” she said, remembering some of what she learned in New York as she saw his name, “Raj.” she said to him, making Raj look up from his spot and towards her, “Detective.” he said to her.

“Avery.” Laura said to him, making the boy smile, “Hi.” he said to her, “Um,so you probably know I’ve been off for a while.” she told him, making Raj lose the smile, “Yeah.” he said to her, “Yeah.” Laura said, “Uh, nightmare. PTSD, fatal civilian shooting, enquiry, medication, the whole enchilada.” she said to him, trying to drop his guard as she offered him a snack, “Gum?” she asked him, “Uh… Thanks.” he said to her.

Taking the gum as she nabbed her own and started to chew, “So, I guess you’re back, then, right?” he asked of her, “Mmm, I’m benched.” she told him, “I’m trying to slip in without, you know, a ripple but… on the down low, I’m a little scatter, memory–wise.” she said to him, rubbing the back of her head, “You think you could help me with a few basics?” Laura asked him, “Oh, like resetting your password?” Raj asked.

Good, he was on board, “Yes, like that.” she told him, “And the whole procedure for fingerprint results.” Laura said to him and he had smiled, great, that meant that she was going to have to deal with her prints.|“I said an hour, Connor.” the techie said, “I haven’t checked yet.” he said, “They’re in, though?” Laura asked, “‘Cause I got a Jane Doe with zero leads.” She said towards him.

“They’re probably in my inbox. Just hang on.” He told Laura, Yep, not a problem.” Laura said as she went behind the desk and turned on the profile, “Connor–” “I’m helping you out.” Avery said to him, he seemed annoyed by that while her file had opened up, revealing Laura with a mugshot when she was Fifteen in NYC and another that was more recent in Toronto, “I gotta log those.” he said.

But she had just deleted the file, “It’s all good.” Laura said as she walked off, “Nothing, anyway.” she told him, “Don’t do that again, Connor.” The man said to her in annoyance towards her as she walked off, thinking about what had been said and the files, the woman started to think that she’d have to do something about this, but there was something that she needed to worry about.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto

Jubilation had a moment and was thinking about what she was going to do next until seeing that there was someone calling her and hearing that, the Chinese–American looked to the number and saw that it was ‘Detective Avery Connor’.” hearing that, Laura spoke, “Hey, Jubes, a few things.” Laura said to them, “It’s me, Bobby knows some more things, but there’s more than we thought.”

“Like what?” Jubilee asked, checking on her work as Mrs. K had moved through the kitchen on the first floor, “Laura, what did you see?” she asked, making the the woman on the other end take a breath, “A lot, and a lot that I don’t think is safe enough to talk about over the phone.” She said and hearing that, Jubilee got concerned, “Alright, I’ll ask Bobby, but I want the truth.” she warned.

“Trust me, he’ll tell you.” Laura said before there was a slight pause, making Jubilee curious, “Do you mind giving Rina my love?” Laura asked her, “Not a problem, Laurs.” Jubilee said before hanging up, it was strange that she seemed even more secretive than before as Laura started to walk down, “Hello there, Jubilee.” Kobayashi said, “Now, what have my two chicks been up to?”

Chapter Text

Allenside Park, Toronto|Park, Toronto

The two officers had gotten out of the car and looked around, “I don’t know, Scott, you think someone was jerking your chain?” JP had asked of his current partner, the duo gazing around until Scott noticed something, “Autoglass.” he told JP who was curious about that, “Looks like a fast exit that way.” He continued, “I don’t see any casings.” JP said before he rushed around the area, “Nothing around here.”

“Could be line of fire.” Scott told him, thinking of when he had been in the military, “A range.” he said.|Laura had taken a breath as she saw the woman that helped raise her at the lake, this was going to be annoying for her as she walked up to Mrs. K who had noticed her presence before she made herself aware, “I’ve seen your elaborate ruses and guises before but how’d you do this?” She had asked.

“How do you fake your own demise  under a train?” Mrs. K asked her, neither one of them looking at each other, “Wouldn’t you rather know why?” Laura asked her, “Don’t care to know why.” Mrs. K told her, “Because I saw a way to dump Tom and get away from the life he was gonna pull me back into and get away from Rina.” She said to her and hearing that, Mrs. K laughed, “Take her on the run with you? Brilliant.”

Mrs. K had lifted up her binoculars, “New clothes and a jaguar do not a mother make.” Mrs. K had warned towards her before offering her binoculars, “The other point.” Mrs. K told her as Laura took them, “I don’t remember, buffleheads?” she had asked, “Barrow’s Goldeneye.” Mrs. K told her, “Just passing through which made Laura turn to her, disliking the statement, “I set up a visit.” Mrs. K told her.

“But the only way you will regain custody of Rina is to show me that you can be still.” The woman said to her, not vanishing like she did with New York, she went to leave, but Laura wouldn’t let her, grabbing Mrs. K, “Thank you.” Laura told her, “For not keeping me away from her.” The Mutant said to her, “Just remember, if you try any other route, I will call in Social Services.” she warned, “You wouldn’t do that to Rina.”

“No, and I know that neither one of us wants that to happen to her.” She said, Laura nodded, the two of them in agreement that Rina was the number one priority.|“Hey, someone cleared this out!” Scott said, JP having run over and looked at it, “Around here? Probablement sans-abri.(Probably homeless.)” JP had said towards him, “Yeah, but someone moved this into position.” Scott told him.

“Hey, this look like a blind to you?” he asked of JP, having seen a few when he had that clunky old prototype to his visor, “You know, a log for someone to put a rifle on? Weeds knocked down for the sightlines?” Scott asked.|“Where are you?” Laura had asked on her phone, “Uh, back at school?” Zelda asked, “What? School?” Laura asked, they were the same age, so why would she–?

“Oh shit, right right right!” Laura started as she recalled what Zelda told her, “Minneapolis, shit!” she said, “Uh, what’s going on?” Zelda had asked her, “Uh, well, I’ve managed to scrap the fingerprint results, for a while anyway, but the killer contacted Scott, Zelda. At least I think they were.” Laura had told her, “He’s already at the scene where Katja was shot.” Laura told her.

“Okay, that’s good. Just… stick with him.” Zelda said to her, “I can’t! He’s– he’s benched me because I’m bloody useless!” Laura told her with some grief at what could happen, “I need help, Zelda. He wants me on the range tomorrow, I’m a lousy shot, I’ve only used one three times.” she told Zelda, “Alright, just… hold tight, we know somebody who can help with that.” Zelda told her.

“You serious?” Laura asked, “If you are.” Zelda said, making Laura sigh in relief.|“You know we got a motorcycle tread over here, Scott.” JP told him, “Yeah?” He asked, leaving the blind to follow JP, “Yeah, it’s a good print, could be the shooter’s getaway.” He said, looking around, “Having a long gun on a motorcycle…” “Could be the weapon broke down, right?” she asked him.

“Yeah, could be.” Scott said, but he wasn’t convinced by that, looking around until he noticed a peculiarity, “Hey I got something over here.” Scott told her, going to move through the weeds and found there was a doll head with red hair he took a photo of, “Headshot.” he muttered, looking towards it as JP noticed the hair, “Bright red hair.” he said to his partner as they realized there was a problem.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto|Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“It has to be this morning.” she said on the phone as Laura got dressed, “Scott’s got me chasing down motorcycle models from tire tracks and I’m shooting bloody targets at a gun range tomorrow.” Laura said to her.|“Well I can’t just conjure a sitter from thin air, it’s weekend primetime, Laura.” Gabby said to her.|“Hah…well then we’re all screwed, aren’t we?” Laura told her when a door knocked.|

Taking a breath, Gabby had taken a breath before hanging up, “Honey,” Gabby said as she looked to Molly Hayes who was with Taylor and Wade, “Can you watch the kids for a couple of hours today?” she asked of her wife, “Sorry, I can’t.” Molly had asked Gabby, “Chase needs me to plan Nico and Karolina’s party, remember?” she asked, “Right… tell Chase he still owes me two grand.” Gabby said.

Molly nodded before going back to playing with their kids, chasing after them, “I’m sorry, I’m coming up empty.” she said, not wanting to bother her best friend and his wife.|Bobby had walked in with Jubilee, offering his sister a cup and that gave her an idea, “I MAY have a solution.” she said, making the pair of them look back towards her confused at what that meant.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“Taylor, Wade, this is Bobby.” Gabby said to her kids, both looking at him from their spots, Molly already gone to talk to her family about the plans, “Hello.” Bobby said to the pair of them, the two of them silent, watching him, unsure what they should think of him, “Brilliant.” He thought as Gabby went to the pair with her bag, on her shoulder, “So, I’m going out for a couple of hours.” She told Wade and Taylor.

“So you don’t burn the house down.” She warned, making Bobby start to laugh until he saw none of them were smiling, “Or Momma and Mommy’s gonna be very upset. Okay?” she asked them with a smile before glaring towards Bobby, “Same goes for you.” she warned towards him, “Right, and by the way, Laura will be there with Jubilee, she knows and she can be trusted.”

That made Gabby pause for a moment before taking a breath, “Great… good to know.” she said before going to leave the house, “So, what now?” Bobby asked the children who just looked at him, seeing they had no ideas, he decided to have his own fun, “Does you Mommy have a drinks trolley?” he asked them, “What’s that?” The one called Taylor had asked him, “Don’t worry, I’ll find it.” he muttered.

Taking his coat off, Bobby had considered what to play, “So… do the two of you want to have a snowball fight inside the house?” He asked them, “No.” Wade said to him, “Well, I don’t have anything for you then.” he said, thinking, “Can we play Mutant Ball instead?” Taylor asked, making Bobby smile, “We can work with that.” he said with a grin, freezing himself up as the two grinned like they set him up for pain.

“The uh make and model matched the tread that Beaubier sent you.” Raj had told Laura on the phone, “A sports bike Suzuki SV650.” He said as Jubilee who was in the passenger seat had seen Gabby walking up to the car, “Holy shit… she really does look like you.” Jubilee whispered as she watched, “Oh, black tank, custom pipes, and stolen when?” Laura said, waving Jubilee off as she played Avery.

“Uh, reported four days ago.” Raj told her, “I… I should probably get back to my real job now.” He told her, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, just put out a… you know…” “An APB?/An APB.” Jubilee and Raj said, “Yes. Yes, ASAP.” Laura told him as Gabby had approached, “Um, sorry, I’m at the doctor. My phone’s about to die.” she told him, “Okay. I’ll get someone to do it.” Raj had told her.

“Thanks, Raj.” she said before hanging up and as she did, the woman looked to Gabby with Jubilee giving a glance between both, “Bobby was right, it’s freaky.” she said before offering her hand, “Jubilation Lee.” she said to her which Gabby took, “Gabrielle Kinney.” she said a little nervous before looking at Laura, “Well, go.”

Ontario

The two of them had watched and saw that there was a shot and Laura had missed while Gabby and Jubilee watched, as she emptied her clip, Gabby had approached, “Okay, reload, try again.” the woman ordered her clone as Jubilee watched with interest, “So most city cops carry Glocks, but a Walther P99, it has an optional–sized handgrip. It’s good for women.” She told them.

“Particularly women living their lives like rats in a lab.” Gabby continued which made Jubilee curious, “Is that what you think?” she asked, looking between the pair as Laura watched silent, “Well, what else could it be? I mean we have claws, we don’t split.” she said to them, “Someone is covering up their illegal experiments by wiping us out.” Gabby added which made Laura think.

“More than one.” Laura said, making the two pause, “What do you mean?” Gabby asked and hearing that, recalling how scared she had been, Laura had shaken her head, “Just a thought.” she said, checking the pistol again, “Well, whatever it is, I need to protect my family.” she said so Laura asked the question, “How do you know about guns anyway? Did Avery tell you about it?”

Hearing that, Gabby shook her head, “Uh… no, my dad was a gun nut, taught me how to use one so I could protect myself, though Avery helped a little.” Gabby told her, “To have her and Zelda to be there, to warn me about them? For that I’m grateful to them.” she told the pair, both understanding that, “I’m sorry you lost Avs.” Laura said to her, “Uh, but anything you can tell me about her will help.”

That made Gabby think, “Well… it might be a bit weird talking about her like she’s a role.” Gabby said to her, thinking what she could say about her, “Truth is? I barely knew Avs.” Gabby had told her, “She was all business, but I admired her.” The woman said to them both, “She didn’t cry, I think that might have been a problem, but she also didn’t tell anyone else about Clone Club.”

“To be fair, I didn’t know the rules of Clone Club before I brought them both in, did I?” Laura asked, making the three of them chuckle, “Can you not use the C–word?” Gabby had asked, making both curious, “Please?I don’t want to think of myself as a… a copy.” she said, both of them could understand that as Laura had drew her pistol and aimed towards the targets.

With precision, she had shot and took out them all with a single shot, “Shit.” Laura said, “Shit indeed.” Jubilee said to her, “Mind if I try a few times?” she said towards them and hearing that, Gabby had grinned, “Alright, how about we time them?” She asked and hearing that, the other two had grinned towards that, liking the sound of it as they got to work on the competition.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

The car had driven up with the three of them, “Stop here. I’ll walk the rest.” she told them and hearing that, the woman had stopped, “So my bottom line is my children can’t know their mother is a target because she was made in a lab.” Gabby told them, “Things have to stay on a need–to–know basis.” She warned, “Yeah, I’m fine with that.” Laura told her, “Same, I wouldn’t wanna worry Shogo.” Jubilee told her.

“Great…” Gabby said to them before seeming to consider what her next words were, “So, we made a decision to trust you. All of you.” Gabby told them, “Really?” Laura asked, “That’s great!” Jubilee started, “Yeah, we’re all in the know and I hope that we can work together.” Gabby said to them before seeming to clear her throat, “So Avery had, um, a substantial sum, sort of a fund,” The scarred woman told them.

“She used to buy information we couldn’t get officially.” that made the two of them curious, “Okay.” Laura said, already having an idea, “We were a cop, a scientist and myself. The fund was how I could contribute.” Gabby explained to the pair, “How much?” Laura asked, already knowing, “$75,000.” Gabby had told them as they looked towards her, “If you want, you can use it, just don’t rob me blind.” she said.

“Just… you know you can’t run away from this, right?” Gabby had asked of Laura who had stayed silent towards that, looking forward, “That 75K I got from my job, but if you can, can you con her bank?” she asked of her, making Laura think what she’d do before nodding, “Yeah… yeah I can.” She told Gabby who smiled, “Great!” she said before opening the door to leave them there with knowledge of what Laura did.

Gabby had been walking ahead, as she entered, a ball had been thrown at her head as she entered the basement, “Taylor! You guys started Mutantball without me and Mommy?” Gabby had asked them, “But it was so much fun, Momma!” Taylor said as Wade hit her in the back of the head with a snowball, “Come on, no more of this.” she told them, getting Talor off the couch, “I’m winning.” Wade said.

“Oh, you’re back.” Bobby said as he walked down the steps before going to get his coat, “Bobby.” “Don’t go!” her children had pleaded towards the man as he got dressed, “Can Bobby stay the night, Mom?” Taylor asked of Gabby, “Maybe later, but not tonight.” Gabby had warned, glad her kids had fun, “My work here is done, I’m afraid.” he said towards them, “No!” “Stay, Bobby.” they asked him.“Adios, munchkins!”

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

“Wow. So the money belongs to Gabby.” Bobby said as Jubilee recapped, “Mmm–hmm.” Laura said to him, all three of them with a drink, “Well, so what’re you gonna do now?” He asked, cooling his drink with a simple breath, “Gonna rip off your new sis and abscond with Rina?” he asked, “She’s not my sister and, yeah, that’s exactly what I was going to do.” she said to her.

“Well…” Bobby started when they heard the sound of a door lock clicking open, making them panic, “Shit.” Jubilee and Bobby said, “Hide!” Laura whispered towards them both, “You cannot hide in minimalist furniture!” Bobby said, “Clearly you’ve never lived in a mall!” Jubilee said as she grabbed at him and the pair went to hide within the bedroom as Jean–Phillipe had entered.

Seeing him, she tried to slip back into Avery, “You’re not supposed to be here.” she said, surprised as he looked towards her, “Nice, he said, sarcastic towards her before walking by and further into the building, “I– I thought you were staying at Cody’s for a while. I think that’s a good idea.” she said as he reached the bedroom, “Well, I think you’re being a bitch.” he snapped towards her.

“I’m the bigger person here, I need a change of clothes.” He explained towards her before heading to the closet, “Uh, I– I’ve been reinstated, JP.” she said to Jean–Phillipe who had come into the closet, not seeing Bobby behind him as he searched for his clothes, “Hey.” She said as he turned towards her, “Oh.” Jean–Phillipe said towards her, “Well, how do you feel about that?” He asked her.

“What? Are you painting by numbers?” she asked him confused, “Guess I am.” Jean–Phillipe said to her before he walked off to leave, “Okay, I’m sorry I’m like this, Jean–Phillipe.” she told him as he left the room, “Uh–” “You’re not like this, it’s your job.” He stated as if it was a fact as Bobby slid out of the closet and Jubilee stayed under the bed where she was nice and hidden.

“Yeah, but I’m a cop first, Jean–Phillipe, but… Shit.” She said, trying to think about what to say, so he had turned on her, “How would you like it if I start pulling this schizophrenic hot–and–cold crap on you?” Jean–Phillipe had asked of her, “Maybe you should, Jean–Phillipe.” she said towards him, “I mean seriously, where are we going with this?” Laura had asked, honestly just sick of it.

In a moment, he had went to grab her at the hair around the back of her neck before he went to kiss her, Laura, seeing a chance, had done the same, the two of them embracing close as Bobby had watched, surprised as Jean–Phillipe had pushed her front to a wall which she caught herself on, starting to pepper her neck with kisses, feeling her body, she had moaned, starting to like it.

Having an idea, she had pushed him off of her, the two of them smiling towards each other, liking what they saw in each other before getting close with each other once more, slower now, she had cupped his jaw and gave a slow kiss, at least before he had pulled back, “Sorry. Gotta go.” he told her, making her dislike the feeling as he picked up his stuff and then went to leave the building, “Well played.” she thought.

Chuckling as Bobby and Jubilee had left the room, “Oh, my God!” Bobby said as the two looked at the smiling Laura, “Oh!” he said again, “Looks like she doesn’t want to break up with big–dick Jean–Phillipe.” Jubilee said towards Bobby who grunted towards that, “She smells it in her musk. You are stuffed.” Bobby said towards her, “The sad part is, it’s true.” Laura said towards them, covering her nose.

“Oh, holy shit.” Jubilee said, having not gotten anyone like that in years, “Oh, don’t worry, I bet he’s wanking already.” Bobby said towards them both with a laugh, “Oh, he’s better be.” Laura said, wishing that she had gotten more as Bobby had groaned, “Paul will so be.” he said with Jubilee laughing towards that at least before Laura had taken a breath, “No, no, no, no.” She said, trying to calm herself.

“No?” Bobby asked in confusion, “Eye on the prize, okay?” Laura had asked them, “Get the money back from Av’s other partner.” Laura said, “Get out.” Jubilee nodded, trying to focus with them, “Yeah.” Bobby said with a smile, “Okay, well if you two will excuse me, I’m gonna need an ice cold bath.” Jubilee told them, “Same.” Laura said, going to get one as she prepared for the next day.

Gun Range, Toronto

Laura had shot accurately, precise before she had disassembled her gun almost robotically as Scott watched, “Maybe it’s your lady grip Walther.” he said towards her which she smirked at, “You like your big Glock, don’t you?” she asked, making him chuckle towards that as he went to the front to do his own attack, “So, um, two sets of tire tracks at the crime scene? One motorcycle and one car?” Laura asked him.

“Three, so there had to be at least four people there.” he told her, “So if the killer’s on one of the motorcycles, then what?” he asked her, “He has an accomplice drive the vic to the quarry while our witness watches?” He asked her, “Or the vic has a driver, doesn’t go to police, panics, and half–ass buries the body?” He asked her as Laura tried to act like she was thinking.

“Yeah, the, um, body dump doesn’t match the professional hit.” She told him, “Exactly.” Scott said towards her, “And I got something else for you, Avs, you’re gonna love this.” He told her as he revealed a photo of a doll head, “That was in the sniper’s nest.” He told her as she seemed to make a face, “Yeah. We got a live one.” He wanted towards her, “Professional hit, doll head, that caller might have been them.”

Before he could say more, there was a ring on her cell phone, “Resetting! Weapons down, please!” The Range instructor said towards them, “Detective Connor.” she said the phone as they started to detail things, “Uh, yeah, Suzuki?” she had asked, pulling out her notebook, “Okay, hang on a sec.” she told the person as Scott looked towards her as he offered a pen which she wrote on, “Okay, thanks.” she said.

Ending the call, Laura looked towards him, “Patrol’s spotted my stolen Suzuki down at Parkdale.” She told him, “It’s a long shot.” He told her, putting his earmuffs on, “We may as well see if the tires match.” he told her before she followed and watched him shoot his target before working with his visor as well, making the woman wonder what they were going to see there

Parkdale, Toronto

“Is this the stolen sports bike?” Scott asked as they approached the vehicle, “Yeah, it looks like it.” Laura had told him, “Well, let’s find the super.” Scott said towards her, walking to the building.|“My son? My son?” The woman had asked of Scott, “Yeah, I know, he’s not home.” He said to her, “But, um, the motorcycle, does it belong to a renter?” Scott had asked of her.

“Upstair? My son no here. No. No.” She told him before going to close the door, “Thank you.” Scott said tired, wishing they were more useful, “Thought you were the ones supposed to deal with the non–English speaking majority.” He told her, “Uh, yeah, my Ukrainian sucks. My Russian’s fine.” she said to him as they started to walk up the steps, going to the next level and looking down.

“Easy access.” Scott said as they glanced at the motorcycle before continuing their walk, Scott looking in one room and seeing something, “Motorcycle gloves.” he told her before knocking, but there was no response, cautious, he twisted the knob and found out– “It’s open.” Scott whispered, Laura drew her walther before they came in, Scott with his Visor ready, motioned for her to take the other side.

The pair of them searching the rooms, cautious as they kept an eye on it, at least before Laura had found a bible and saw that there was Katja’s ID with a photo of her with a man, “What you got there?” Scott had asked her, “Uh…” she started, making sure to slide the paper out into her pocket before reading it, “‘You formed my inward parts’.” SHe had said towards the man.

“‘You knitted me together in my mother’s womb./–Mother’s womb.” They had said, surprising her, “‘I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made’.” he said to her as she saw that he had found a wall where the passage was, “Bibles, dolls. This perp’s got some deep–eated spiritual problems. If it’s not the anonymous caller.” He started as laura had started to smell someone and turned.

Looking, she saw that there was a pistol aimed through the window and made her panic, so she had grabbed him, pushing Scott down as the person opened fire, making her worried as he groaned, Laura had checked on him, “Go!” he ordered of her, making Laura worried, “No. No.” “I’m okay. Go!” He ordered of her, hearing that, she started to nod and turn, “Go after him! Go!” he commanded of her.

So she had ran, getting out, she had drawn the pistol and saw them on the back, “Freeze! Police!” She ordered the disguised person, but they instead had only started to run, “Shit.” she whispered, getting off, she had leapt down onto the ground, seeing them run across the street, Laura had seen them go down an alley, she wasn’t sure that her claws would work but pursued.

Chasing after them through the alley, following after them, she had found herself in an abandoned lot, there was nothing, no person and it made her try to use her senses, but it was too loud, there were too many scents, she had tried to look around, trying to find them as she searched before dialing in a number, “Scott.” she said to him, “Where are you?” He questioned, sounding in pain.

“Uh, I think he went west, uh, between the two, uh, the row houses.” she told him, making sure to circle around, cautious and a little scared, “Uh, I think he went into one of the abandoned buildings here.” Laura said towards him when something hit her back, knocking her down on the ground, phone and gun out of her hands, “Avery!” Scott shouted as she got onto her back, seeing them approach.

They had a red knife in their hand, looking ready to kill her, she had popped her claws in her left leg, going to kick at their leg, “No!” she snapped towards them, but it was too late, they had pinned her leg before going to stand over her Laura, “Good riddance, Avery Connor.” the person said in a Ukrainian accent, going to stab her, so she played her card, “I’m not Avery!” She shouted towards her.

That made her pull her hood back, revealing an albino version of her face covered in scars and scratches as she looked at her curious, leaning close as she examined her faced, tracing the blade down her cheek as she took a deep whiff of her, “Dirty little copy cop.” The woman said towards her, “Who are you?” she asked, but Laura wasn’t going to let her hurt her as she popped her claws and stabbed her.

The woman was shocked, in pain as she looked at the stab wounds, pulling it away, she had drawn her pistol, she aimed her own pistol towards Laura who started to get worried, “Not yet. Not Avery.” The pale version of her said, looking unsteady as she walked off, her body already seeming to gather strength as she walked off, “Avery!” Scott shouted out and looking around, she saw there was the knife.

Taking it before he appeared, “Avery!” he said, getting into the same area, “Jesus Christ!” He started before rushing towards her as Laura started to get up, pistol drawn, “Are you okay?” he asked, getting close to her, “Hey.” he said, getting concerned for her, “I’m fine. I’m fine.” she told him, a bit panicked, “Where’d he go?” He asked before she started to fall down, “Okay. Okay, I got you.” He assured her, “I got you, come on.”

“All I saw was a hoodie.” Laura said as the team around there had canvased the scene and made sure that they were okay, “He hit me from behind.” She told them as their CO watched her, “And you struggled with him at close quarters?” He asked her, “Yeah, I was almost out, I never saw his face.” Laura told him, “Lieutenant.” Scott said, making him turn to look towards her.

“I almost lost not one but two detectives.” The Lieutenant told him, “How the hell are you in this without backup, Scott?” The man had asked of him, “It was a thread, Lieutenant. It was a flimsy lead on a stolen bike.” He stated towards him, “Well, it sure hit.” The man whispered in annoyance, “You sure you’re all right?” he asked, showing his concern now towards him, “I’m fine.” Scott assured.

“Just let me take her home.” He said towards her, after they nodded towards that before he went to help her up, the two of them starting to walk away from the scene, “I never should have told you to go after him.” He warned towards him, “Of course I’m gonna go after him, Scott. It;s not your fault.” The woman said towards him as they reached the cars, “No, no, I should have had your back.” Scott said to her.

She was about to give a snarky remark before he turned to look at her, “You had mine. I didn’t have yours.” he said towards her, “Yes, you did. Look, shit happens fast, okay?” Laura asked him, but he wasn’t convinced, “Will you please– I’m not gonna let you drive me home like an invalid, okay?” Laura had asked of him, making Scott turn to look towards Laura/

“I just need a shower and an early start so we can catch this guy.” She told him, “Okay?” she went, going to walk off and leave, “Hey.” Scott said, making her stop and look towards him as he opened his trunk to his car and revealed a bag he dropped on the trunk, “Your money’s all there.” he promised towards her as she took it, “You did have it in the trunk.” she went, annoyed towards him.

“”Sorry I held it over you. Guess I owe you one.” Avery’s partner said to him, “No, we’re square, Scott.” she told him as he approached, “Hey, you’re not gonna hug me, are you?” She asked him, but he walked by to the driver’s side of his car, “See you in the morning.” he told her before going into the car and starting up the car and driving off which was great, now she needed to deal with the money.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto

The siblings had sat in the car, “Are you sure about this?” Bobby had asked of her, making Laura sigh, “Yeah.” she told him before getting up and then walking to the house where her daughter was by the window, reading with Mrs. K while Jubilee and Shogo had started to walk around with a piggyback, making Rina smile as she and Mrs. K started to do the same in a little race.

The sight of it, the joy in her daughter without her, it hurt, it hurt her as she walked off and sat in the car again, “Bloody Mrs K. She’s right.” Laura said towards her brother, “Really?” He asked her, “What kind of mother am I if I snatch my own daughter?” she asked him, “A crap one. I agree.” Bobby said to her, “And if I rob Gabby? Run now and never tell my–” “Clones?” Bobby asked.

“Oh, God, we do have to find another word for that.” Laura said, REALLY hating that word as Bobby got concerned, “Don’t tell them what, Laura? What happened?” He asked her, but she stayed quiet, “After all this? Really gonna go and just give the money back to Happyface?” he asked, a little weirded out by her positivity, “Mrs. K gave me one visit.” Laura said, ignoring the question.

“I need to get it right.” Laura told her brother, seeing that he wasn’t going to get an answer, Bobby relented, “Okay.” he sighed, “Well, this has taken years off my life. Now can you please tell me what in the hell happened to you?” he asked her before laughing, making Laura smile as she started up the car and started to drive off, leaving the problem of the copy for another day.

Residence, Toronto

She had been checking on her wounds, her healing factor had started working and as she did, there was pain, but also relief, the new copy, it wasn’t Avery, it wasn’t The Канібал, it was some sort of new Copy and it made the woman think, but she wasn’t going to add this one yet, there was still The Канібал that she was going to have to deal with her, but first she needed to

Toronto, Ontario

She had looked at where the rogue had been hiding, annoyed, the woman started to compact her rifle, annoyed as all of a sudden her phone had went off and looking, she noticed that there was a message that was telling her that she was going to have to stay her a little while longer, great, maybe she’d be able to kill her white whale like she did Katja Obinger.

Chapter Text

Residence, Toronto

The Albino woman had been making sure that all of her wounds were fine, that there was no dirt or infection in her body  as she thought, “I’m not Avery.” she said, remembering what that Not Avery had said, groaning from the wound, “I’m not Avery.” she whispered to herself, thinking to herself, her body covered in blood but her flesh was as undamaged as before, “I’m not Avery. I’m not Avery.” she repeated.

The woman thinking about it and wondering until She had heard a noise, small footsteps, they had gotten closer and closer as she continued to clean herself up, at least before the door opened, making her turn as she put her clothes back on, the child had looked at her, scared as the woman had approached, shushing silently with a smile before she approached, taking their hand gently before bringing them in there too.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Toronto

Laura had knocked on the glass, looking around as she did so, to make sure that she wasn’t being watched, the woman had knocked again and Gabby Kinney had appeared, moving the curtain to see who was there, so she unlocked the door to let her into the house, “What’s going on?” Gabby had asked her who sighed, “It’s kind of a long story.” Laura told Gabby.

“Why would one of us be killing us?” Gabby asked as Laura took a cold beer and pressed it to her face, “Is she okay? Did someone–?” “I don’t know, but she’s got bad breath. And probably bat shit crazy after whatever made her this way.” Laura said, trying to find out more things in her mind, “How many of us does she know about?” Gabby had asked of her, “Does she know about me? Zelda? My kids?” Gabby asked her.

“Did she follow you here? Do I need to get my gun?” Gabby asked of her and hearing that, Laura sighed, “Because she was gutted by my claws and I wouldn’t lead anyone here.” Laura assured her, “Sorry, it’s just… I always worried that someone would come here to try and kill me ever since I found out that I was a– you know.” Gabby explained towards her, “I’m not going to let my family get involved.”

“I do what I can–” “Right. Your financial donations.” Laura said as she came with the cash, “Yeah, so you wanted that money Avs was holding.” Laura said as she gave it to her, “There you are, The self–defense fund.” Laura said, Gabby taking it and looking at the item in there, “Sorry, I was going to steal it and run,” Laura admitted to her and hearing that, Gabby gave a glance, “But I can’t do that,” she admitted.

“Because I have a family too, Gabby.” Laura said towards her, “My daughter.” she said towards Gabby who took a swig, making Gabby look at her, “You too?” She asked, “Yeah. Her name’s Rina. And I meant to be seeing her today, but there’s this killer up my ass, so…” she started to say, taking a breath, “Is Rina your biological child like Wade and me or adopted?” Gabby had asked of her, “Mine. Why?” she asked of Gabby.

“That's neat to hear, another kid, I thought I was the only one.” Gabby said towards her as she started to get something, “Huh, good to know.” She said towards Gabby, “But right now? We have to deal with THIS. Yeah?” Laura said towards her, “Avery was on this killer’s hit list and now I am.” Laura said, still not sure if she was the one to kill Katja or not.

“Well, how am I able to help?” Gabby had asked, curious at her request, the woman looking towards her, “Be available.” Laura had requested of her, “I may need you somehow.” she said and hearing that, Gabby took a breath before she had went to get her glass of wine and as she did, the two of them looking towards each other and thinking about what this person was up to.

Drake Residence, Toronto|Nieuhaus Residence, Minneapolis

The three of them in Bobby’s home as Laura told Zelda what happened on a video chat, “Wow, rich, man!” The geneticist said towards her as she pulled out a picture, “This looks like a new blade inset in a much older handle.” The woman had told her, “So the fish is a bitch.” Zelda said towards her, confusing the woman.|“Symbiotically speaking, like a universal way back symbol of fecundity.”

“But these wings though, they’re…|“Seriously, what is she on about?” Bobby had asked of them, “Quiet, she’s just weird.” Laura said towards her brother, “Sorry, sorry, sorry.” Zelda said as she had returned with the information she was looking for, “Okay, going on a tangent there.” She told them.|“If her healing factor is active, we need to find her.” Zelda warned towards her, “Find out what she knows.”

That made Jubilee start to approach, “Are you mad? She’s a homicidal maniac.” Jubilee warned towards her on the screen, “But we need to find out who she is, Laura.” Zelda had said to them, “She’s– she found us, she’s got answers.” Zelda said to her.|“The only way I’m gonna do that is go back to being a cop.” Laura said towards them, “No. No way, you’re not going back to being Avery.”

That made Jubilee nod, “Impersonating a dead officer, that’s a whole new crime.” Jubilee said, “I’ve met a couple that did that, it never works out well.” She towards them, “I think I’m safest with the cops, to be honest with you both.” Laura told them, surprising her brother mid sip, “Did that just come out of your mouth?” he asked of her in surprise, “Look. Scott’s already looking for the killer.” Laura told them.

“I’ll shadow him as Avery, I let them figure out what has happened to her and then when I find out I can jump off and deal.” Laura said to the three listening to her, “Deal?” Jubilee said, surprised by the statement, “I’m beginning to realize crazy is genetic.” Bobby muttered in annoyance, “Eh, you should have seen Shogo’s dad.” Jubilee said towards him.

“Well, yeah, bad brain chemistry can be genetic.” Zelda said towards the group as she went to get another book, “Um, but environment,”|“That’s individuals, right?” she said towards them before looking, “I mean, there’s the whole nature–nurture question right there.” The College student explained towards them.|“Okay, let’s talk nature.” Bobby said to them.

“Out of nine so far, one’s a psycho who killed four others.” He started.|“One committed suicide, one’s a soccer mom with too much pep,” Jubilee listed off, “And then there’s you.” Jubilee said, making Zelda turn back to look towards them.|“My crazy sister is sane by comparison.” Bobby muttered as he took another sip, “Thanks, Bee…” Laura said, slightly annoyed with her brother.

“I think this might help us figure out where she’s coming from.” Zelda said towards them, revealing the picture again, “So I’ll look into it.” Zelda said towards them as Laura’s phone had went off, making her look and see it was from Scott, “Ah, police business.” She said towards them, “Scott’s got a lead.” The woman explained, “Okay! Hey you didn’t show this to Gabby by any chance, did you?”

That made Laura look up, “No, I didn’t want to freak her out.” Laura said towards her, making Jubilee smile while Bobby chuckled at the mother hen moment from Laura, “Got Gabby on standby.” Laura said to the group and hearing that, they wondered if Gabby was fine or if she was freaking out at the moment as Laura started to get up and find whatever it was going on in the station.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

Gabby had been packing up as Wade and Taylor were laughing towards something, “Babe! Make sure Wade wears his seat belt.” Gabby had told Molly, “Sending the kids to your parents on a school morning?” Her wife asked as she walked into the room, “Well, they’re staying the night.” Gabby said, not wanting to worry Molly but she was only more confused, “That’s not an answer.” Molly told her.

“Well, you didn’t pose it as a question, did you?” She teasingly asked her wife, going to peck her nose before putting Taylor’s shoes in the bag, “Okay…? But why did you cancel all their activities?” Molly asked with concern, “I just– there’s something I need to do, tour time.” Gabby said to her, their code word for alone time, “You have your usual Thursday drinks with clients, right?” Gabby asked Molly.

“Yes…?” She asked, concerned as Gabby gave the two bags to her taller and more muscular wife, “So I’ll see you when you come crashing in at 3:00AM, now, won’t I?” she said to her before she had given her a deep kiss, enough to make Molly start to feel her knees get weak before Gabby had walked away, Molly a bit stunned before going robotic and following through with the orders, “Yes, ma’am…”

As she left, Gabby had went to sit on the table, taking her gun and placing it there with her phone, waiting there as she rubbed her knuckles, scared of what she was going to see, the stress might make her claws pop out as well, to think that there was a killer with her face? Gabby had no idea what she was going to see, but she knew that they were not going to take her down easily.

Residence, Toronto

Laura had driven in and saw the motorcycle being tagged, “Oh, crap!” She said just as someone knocked on her window, making her flinch, her claws almost popping out, “Sorry.” Scott said towards her as Laura started to get out, “I’m jumpy too.” Scott said, his visor glowing, “How’s your head?” She asked as they walked towards the house, “Probably about the same as yours.” the cop told her.

“It’s a good day to be alive, Avs.” Scott told her, “My kids thank you, Jean thanks you.” Scott said to her, “Yeah, don’t mention it.” She told him, “I didn’t, they did.” Scott told her, “I got a present for you.” He said as they had walked towards the bike, “Our killer made a pit stop.” he told her, “That’s his bike.” And hearing that, Laura tensed, “They got him?” She asked, “No, but we got a witness.”

That gave her mixed feelings, “Just follow the bloody brick road.” The man continued as she went to walk in and see JP, “Hey, there he is, our walking wounded.” The speedster said to him, “You all good, Scott?” Jean–Paul asked, “Yeah.” He said with a smile, “Yeah?” he asked before looking to Laura, “Glad you’re okay. We’re gonna get this guy. Don’t worry, all right?” He asked them.

“So your guy wore gloves, no prints, but he has not exactly covered his tracks. Go take a look.” JP told them and hearing that, the two Mutants look at each other before they entered, gloves on, “Self–surgery.” Scott said, “It’s self taught, I did something similar when I was Air Force.” Scott said to Laura who kept that in the back of her head for now, “Looks like it’s gotta hurt.” Jean–Paul said.

The pair looked towards the speedster, “The witness is ready.” He told the two and hearing that, if they WERE a witness, that meant that they could have seen HER face, and she didn’t want to risk anything, “Scott, you wanna take him?” She asked him, “No.” he said, not giving her a chance, “Come on.” He told her and hearing that, The woman went to follow so they could get some answers.

“I slept through the whole thing.” The mother said towards them, ashamed and worried, “I can’t believe I did.” The woman said towards Scott, “Trevor come into my room and it was dark, and he was all wet…” She continued as Laura stayed out of the room, making sure that she was out of their sight, “With blood.” The woman had said and Laura could guess from where as Scott looked at Trevor.

“He said it was an angry angel.” The woman said towards Scott who went to talk to him, “Hey, Trevor.” he said, kneeling down to be at eye level, “Can you tell me what the angry angel looked like?” He asked of the boy and he glanced to the side, his eyes locking on Laura before lifting up his hand to point at her, this was it, this was when they found it out! “Avery?” Scott asked, looking at the boy.

“The person in your bathroom was a woman?” Scott asked of her, the boy nodded towards that as Scott looked back towards Laura, “Is that possible?” He asked her as she approached, nodding as he started to get up, “Let me talk to him.” She whispered towards him as Scott started to walk by, “Yeah, sure.” He said, leaving the two alone as the boy started to get upset at the sight of her.

“It’s okay, darling.” Laura said as she dropped her Avery accent, “I’m not her.” The woman said towards him, “She said you would come.” The boy said towards her before he revealed there was something in his hand, “Pick a color.” he said to her, making Laura smile, “Red.” she answered towards him, “R–E–D.” He said towards her before opening it, “Pick one.” He asked of her.

In it, Laura said a stick figure of a woman and a gun, her brains getting blown out by a gun, “That one.” She said, pointing to the stuck figure, he started to open it, “Wait, let me see that.” Laura said towards him as she took it and saw that there was red and a number on it, “Can I keep this?” Laura asked Trevor, “Yes.” He said, the woman not sending that Scott was looking over her shoulder.

“What you got there?” He asked of her, knowing she couldn’t hide it, offered the paper to him, “Souvenir.” she told him as he got a bag and took ir, “What the Hell?” he asked as Laura started to get up, “Hey, can you bag this?” Scott asked one of the techs who had opened on, taking the paper away, “It’s okay, sweetie. It’s okay.” The mother said as the two officers had walked away with Laura giving one last look.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto|Residence, Toronto

“Yes, once again, 8:00, before her bedtime.” Amiko Kobayashi said on the phone, “Is that my mom?” Rina asked of her as she continued to paint on her easel, “No.” Mrs. K told her.|“Did you just tell her it wasn’t me?” Laura asked, annoyed, “Laura, why are you calling?” Mrs. K asked of her.|“If you don’t show after all this anticipation–” “Just making sure we’re still on.” Laura said towards her.|

“Well, we are at this end.” Mrs. K said towards her daughter, “Yes, I’ll be there.” Laura assured the woman as she approached her car door, “Can I talk to her?” Laura asked Mrs. K, “You can talk to her tonight.” Amiko told Laura.|She glanced backwards and saw that Shogo had joined her, offering some other paints as Amiko whispered into the phone towards her.

“If you let her down, that’s it.” She warned towards Laura, “I won’t let you see her again.” the woman threatened.|Hearing that, Laura took a deep breath, “I said I’ll be there.” Laura assured her as she went to get in her car.|Shogo had watched as he saw his friend making a picture of her mom with her hands having two lines like claws there that made Shogo wonder where those came from.

Toronto Police Department, Toronto

“So you all have copies of the fortune teller.” Jean–Paul said to the group who had all looked over the items, “Eye witness says we got it wrong.” Scott said towards the group, “Jane Doe’s killer is female.” Scott said towards the group, “About Avs size.” He continued as Laura watched from the doorway, “As for the Jane Doe.” Janis who was working on the corpse spoke.

“It isn’t each reconstructing a skull that’s gone through a gravel crusher, but we do have cause of death.” Janis told them and hearing that, Laur focused, “This hole. .223 caliber.” Janis said with a point, but Laura wasn’t so sure, that woman tried to kill her with a knife and shot Scott with a pistol, not a sniper’s MO, “So, we have a long rage, high–powered weapon.” Scott told them.

“Name me one homicide ever pinned on a female sniper.” the detective asked of the group, “How’s our profile?” The CO asked of them, “Female killer tend to suffer from chronic detachment, isolation breeds sociopaths.” Janis told them as Laura thought again, that version of her? It was close… “This song, ‘Fearfully and wonderfully made’. She’s a religious fanatic.” Janis continued with the profile.

“The stick figures, the doll’s head, the fortune teller… Les problèmes de développement de la petite enfance peuvent constituer des abus extrêmes.(Early childhood development issues, could be extreme abuse.)” Jean–Paul said towards them, “You’re lucky I know French and yes, but she’s also careful in her way.” Janis told the officers all there, “No prints on any of this so far.” She explained.

“And the DNA evidence?” Scott asked, curious, “We’re still a week away from knowing if they match anyone on file.” Janis said, great, that gave  Laura a week, “Nothing on Jane Doe’s prints? Her hand didn’t give us a match?” The CO asked, making Scott look towards Laura, “No, no. It did not.” She told them, trying to sound confidant towards the group.

“Look, the bottom line is we’re chasing a calculated female killer who loves playing games.” He told them, “Like these fortune tellers.” He said, taking one to look at them, “Jean–Paul?” Scott asked, “Certain choices give certain answers.” He said before starting to open over and over, “Every choice is a different death, could be threats, could be existing kills, they might meant something when combined with the numbers.”

“Connor?” a unie asked, “Connor?” she asked, making Avery look back, “Call for you.” She said to the woman, making them all look towards her as she left to figure out what was going on, reaching her desk, she answered it, “Detective Connor–” “No, you’re not.” the voice of the woman that tried to kill her said, “Avery is dead, isn’t she?” The mystery woman said towards her.

“What do you want from me?” Avery asked, dropping her disguise, “You could have killed me, but here we are.” Laura said towards her, thinking she was using something to make the kills permanent, “You didn’t feel it?” The other her asked, “What?” Laura asked of the other, “We have a connection.” The woman said towards her as Laura tried to calm down and think this over.

“Uh, you mean when I stabbed you through your liver with my claws?” Laura asked of her, “How’s that going?” She asked, “I need to know who you are.” The other woman said, not answering her question, “Let’s mee again.” She ordered as Laura started to get annoyed, the woman chuckled, “I never got your name.” The woman told Laura, “I never got yours.” the fake cop said.

“Bellona.” The newly dubbed Bellona said towards her as Laura started to get a pen and paper, “And, uh, last name?” Laura asked her, “You’re doing police work but how long can that last?” Bellona asked of her, “When the real police find me you are me and I’m you.” Bellona said, “We’re both the victim and the cop.” Bellona said towards her, “Yeah, that would be bad for both of us.”

“So come see me, discuss… I already gave you directions.” Bellona told her when Scott started to walk by, “Hey, come here.” He said towards them as they had started to walk, “The numbers, they’re addresses.” Scott said towards them  as he went to the board, people all surrounding the board of the map, “Okay, 17 is the street number of the quarry where we found Jane Doe.” Jean–Paul told them.

“Yeah, the rooming house. Shooting scene. The kid’s house.” Scott said towards them as Laura looked them over and thought, “Even the precinct. Everywhere we’ve been.” Scott said towards them as Jean–Paul was the SECOND to notice, “Except one.” He said, his phone in his hand, 10–24 and GPS give one address with that street number, ten minutes from the kid’s house, Lake Point Road.”

Scott gave it a glance before recognizing it, “Oh, I know that place. Lots of squatters around there.” He said towards them, “Let’s check it out.” The Detective ordered, “Hold it.” Their boss said, making him pause, “Wait for emergency tactical, huh?” He asked of the man, “This is a probably sniper, so let’em sweep it first before you go in.” He advised towards the man,”Got it?”

Scott had just rushed by with Jean–Paul close as Scott went to grab her wrist gently, “Hey, don’t worry.” he said, trying to reassure her, “Let’s do this.” The man told her, going ahead.|The two of them left and she glanced, “I’m parked over here so…” Laura started to say, “No, no, no, after last night, we stick together, come on.” He said towards the woman, making her a bit annoyed before she followed.

As the two of them had did so, getting in the car, Bellona who had stood up, shrugging off the blanket, walked in, the makeup she wore hid her pale skin and scars, colored contacts and a cap making her look like her double as she walked in.|Bellona made sure that her hair was properly hidden so no one would notice as she looked around, cautious until a man approached her.

“Whoa, Avery! Rough night?” The man asked of Bellona who glared, keeping silent which was making him start to get disturbed, “Okie–doke then.” He said towards her before starting to walk off, as he did so, Bellona looked towards him and then towards the scene there, officers had been there, sorting through everything there, “Out.” she ordered of them, making the officers look towards each other.

Eventually though they had walked off, leaving her all alone, Bellona had button up her coat and looked over everything, she started to chuckle, seeing how right and how wrong they were with everything that was there, the Mutant had started to think about how she was going to reorganize everything so that the not Avery would see what she wanted her to see.

Toronto, Ontario

The group had come in and gotten out of their car, “What?” Scott said, noticing a change in the expression of Laura, “Anybody else feel like they have a target on their back?” Laura had asked them, “All clear.” An officer on the radio had asked of them, “Copy.” another uniformed officer asked, “Okay, I’ll take you guys in for a closer look. You’re gonna love it.” The officer at the front said towards them.

THe three of them had walked in, Jean–Paul had rushed forward while Laura felt that things were… her senses were on fire, smelling many things here, “Over here, detectives.” The officer said towards them as they entered the room, there was a bed there and cuts all around, “Looks like more self–surgery.” Jean–Paul said towards them and hearing that, they started to look it over, “Can’t be long till she bleeds out.”

“Doubt it.” Laura thought to herself as a new light turned on, revealing more evidence in the room, “Merde! It’s the same figures as the fortune teller.” The speedster said towards them as they saw stick figures everywhere, making them concerned, “She’s saying she’s a serial killer?” Scott asked of him, “Could be her single victim. Our Jane Doe over and over again?” Jean–Paul asked.

“Or she just draws like a third grader.” Laura said, having seen her daughters artwork and even she was better than that, “This her?” Scott asked, pointing towards the largest one at the top of the image with a question mark for her head, “Or her next victim.” He asked again as Laura started to consider what that meant, “Next victim.” Laura said towards him, having an idea who it was supposed to be.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto

Bellona had been walking through, trying to look like she belonged, keeping her head low as she saw Avery Connor’s desk, sitting down, she started to look around, eating her food, taking a card and dropping it, Bellona had been looking over everything there, including a photo of Avery and Jean–Philipe, before she could do anything, a phone went off, “Detective Connor?” She said to the person.

“Hey, it’s me.” Jean–Philipe said towards her, making her pause towards her, “Jean–Philipe?” He asked of her, “Oh!” Bellona started, “Hello, Jean–Philipe.” She said to him, “How are you doing?” JP asked of her, “Oh, not too good.” Bellona said towards her copy’s boyfriend, “I got beat up.” She said towards him, “What?” He asked, concerned, “What happened?” He asked of her.

“Please come and get me out of here.” Bellona said towards him before hanging up, the woman had done what she was going to have to get through and find a few other things that she could play with, at least before Bellona started to get up, there was no telling how long she had, so Bellona might as well make it count for her game with Laura to continue onwards.

Toronto, Ontario

“She led us here.” Scott said towards them, “She wanted us to see this.” The man explained towards them, “Maybe a wild goose chase. Wasting our time. “Laura said, “No. She had a reason. “Scott told her, thinking, “Okay, let’s let forensics have this.” Scott ordered of them, “I hope you don’t have dinner plans.” Jean–Paul said towards Laura, “Yeah, I’ll be right with you.” Laura said to them both.

Drake Residence, Toronto|Toronto, Ontario

“Is it my imagination or does Zelda have bigger breasts than Laura, Jubes?” Bobby asked, having gotten comfortable with her, “I don’t really know, don’t check… but yeah.” Jubilee said as Laura listened on the speaker, “No way I can make dinner with Rina tonight.” Laura said towards them both.|“Well, you’ve got to.” Bobby told her, making Laura whisper, “I can’t, I’m stuck with Art and this bitch is right on top of me.”

“I can lead her straight to Rina.” Laura warned towards her, “I know,” Bobby said.|“But Mrs. K gave you an ultimatum, she’s gonna cut you off.” Bobby said towards  her, “Rock and a hard place here, Bee. Jubes.” Laura said to them both, “Yeah, your permanent address.” Bobby muttered towards her, “I MIGHT have one really idiotic idea.” Jubilee said towards them both.|“Oh, good.|Oh, good.” Both said.

“You need to be at two places at once, yeah?” Jubilee asked of her, “Yeah?” Laura said towards Jubes, “Well… if anybody can do that, you guys can.” she said towards them.“Are you effing serious?” Bobby had questioned, looking towards her.|“Yeah, I think we’ve got a plan.” Laura said towards the two of them, “Yes!” Jubilee said towards them as Bobby turned, annoyed.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

Gabby had been pouring herself another glass, going to take a sip from her nerves and deeper when all of a sudden, she heard a knocking, hearing that, the Mutant had popped her claws with one hand, her gun at the ready as she got ready for whatever might be in there, she moved the curtain and saw that it was Bobby, relaxing her empty hand, she had opened the door.

“What happened?” She asked of Bobby who looked towards the man who had walked in once Laura unlocked the door, “Is she okay?” Gabby asked her, “Yeah, she’s okay, she’s fine.” Bobby told her, “That doesn’t sound okay.” Gabby said towards her as she looked at his body language as she shut the door, “Laura needs your help with her daughter.” He told her, confusing Laura.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto

The team had started to come in and entered, “I’ll get the drawings out to Jean.” Jean–Paul said to Scott who chuckled, “Where’s missing persons on our Jane Doe?” Scott asked, wishing he was the one seeing his wife, “Nothing local.” Jean–Paul said to her, “Well, widen the net.” Scott told him, “How wide?” Laura asked of him, “North America.” Scott answered, “Whoah, quick change.” Raj said.

“Huh?” Laura asked of him, “Your whole look, it’s cleaned right up.” Raj continued and that made Laura consider what he was saying, “Looks way better.” He told her, making Scott speak up, “Keep it in your pants, Raj.” Scott told him as he walked by, “Uh, sorry…” Raj responded, “Guys, what the hell?” Scott shouted form in the room again, Laura close to follow and see that it was the evidence in the shape of a girl.

“Nice to know someone’s having fun.” Scott said as they had started to think, this was a problem, so Laura had started to walk off to think as she started to head to her desk and think on what exactly she would need to do until seeing things were… off, her food was eaten and there was a person there, “Maggie Chen?” She thought, taking it off to see Jean–Philipe’s eyes scratched out.

Surprising her, she looked back as she hid the picture and looked at Maggie, Laura had taken out a file and started to look through the files, trying to find out what was going on and saw a photo of Maggie Chen, taking that, she checked the phone and the person there, wondering what was with Maggie Chen, why did this other version of her want to see it? She was gonna have to figure it out.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“So you want me to impersonate Laura like how Laura’s been impersonating Avs?” Gabby asked of him, “Right in front of her daughter? I mean would it work?” Gabby had asked of Bobby, “How long has it been? Just so I can do this right.” The woman asked of Bobby, “Ten months.” he told her, making Gabby think, “Okay… so I got some leeway for this.” Gabby said to him.

“Yeah, Jubes will help so there shouldn’t bee any worries for messing this up.” Bobby told her, “Great, this will be fun!” She told him, making Bobby glare, “No, not fun!” He said to her, “This isn’t fun, I don’t think you understand the situation here.” he said towards her, “If Laura misses tonight, then she may never get Rina back.” Bobby warned towards her and hearing that, she sobered up.

“Okay.. I understand, Bobby, I don’t know what I’d do if anyone tried to take away my kids.” Gabby said, “Good, because Laura’s currently playing Hide and Seek with Bellona and I feel that helping her with this would be nice like when I helped with your kids, wouldn’t you?” He asked of Gabby who nodded towards that, “Great, so how’s your acting?” Bobby asked of her.

“Well, I did just play Annelle in Steel Magnolias.” She offered towards Bobby and hearing that, he got interested, "Seriously?" Bobby asked of her, “Mm–hmm. Glendale Community Theater. Me and Molly did it as a couples thing.” Gabby explained to him, “Annelle. An… Oh, my God!” He said towards her, “The Daryl Hannah part?” He asked of her, “Yeah.” She said to him with a smile.

“It’s terrible casting.” Bobby said towards her, “Um, it was actually very good acting, Bobby.” Gabby said, defending her play, “Trust me, Laura’s not stretch. I got great reviews.” She said, “From the whole neighborhood, I’m sure.” Bobby said towards her, making Gabby nod, “Great, so let’s get started!” She said towards him, getting up and stretching as they got ready to talk.

Chapter Text

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“‘The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain’.” Gabby said out loud as Bobby watched, “Okay, Eliza, holy shit!” He told her, “We need to pull a full reverse Pygmalion here.” He said, making Gabby cock her head towards him, “Okay, so what did I do wrong?” She asked and hearing that, Bobby took a moment, “Alright, so here is what we’re going to do.” Bobby said as they started to think.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto

Laura had been on the desk, looking onto the files that were there before she noticed Maggie Chen had mark on the back of her neck from the coronary report, curious, she had pulled the knife out and examined them, seeing that there were similarities between them, it was… it was interesting, “Guess what.” Jean Paul said, making her turn and look as he sat down in her empty seat.

“My crime psych guy says biblically traumatized or now, woman–on–woman means it’s personal whether it’s her first or fifteenth kill.” Jean Paul said to them, “Yeah, no. That makes sense.” Laura said, “But what about the shooter? I mean she clips Scott close but clean headshot on Jane Doe?” She asked him, “Exactly, we’re back to Jane Doe and who she was to Jane Death to see if it was more than a hit.”

The two of them sighing towards that, “Something’s got to give and when it does…” he said, starting to get up and as she did, Laura started to get concerned, “Yeah, right behind you.” Laura muttered as she got up to follow, as she did so, there was still that phone call, why she would call herself a Cannibal in the third person, it was… it was confusing to say the least.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“These are your worst clothes?” Bobby asked as he looked at them, “Well, I’m sorry, mate, but I don’t shop second–hand.” Gabby said towards him, still trying the fake accent towards him, making  Bobby start to feel insulted, “No! No! It’s… My God, no!” He said, going to get another outfit, “It’s not ‘mate’, all right?” He asked of her, “It’s more like um… it’s like, mate.” He told her.

“Mate.” Gabby repeated, “Yeah?” Bobby went as she tried again, “‘Ello, mate.” She said to him which only made him nervous, “Yeah, um, that’s better.” Bobby said, not that convinced, “But, look, you’re gonna have to get past Mrs. K, so you’ve really got to play the dreary history there, you know?” he told her, “I mean, you basically you won’t talk. This shirt is all wrong.” Bobby continued, starting to cut, “Hey, hey, hey! Molly got that for me!” She said to him.

“Not hey!” he snapped, freezing up a little to be cold to the touch, “You’re a punk! Be one.” Bobby told her and hearing that, Gabby started to get angry, “Oi!” She snapped towards him, and that made Bobby pause, “Okay… that’s a work in progress.” he told her with a smirk, “Great, also now that I look at it, I think Molly will like it more.” She said, making Bobby interested now.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto|Nieuhaus Residence, Minneapolis

Laura had taken her phone and took a picture of the mark and the knife together, as she did, the phone went off, making her take it, cautious and a bit scared, “Detective Connor.” She told them, but it was only the woman at the desk, “There’s a visitor for you.” She said, making Laura turn to look and see that it was Jean–Phillipe who was coming her way, making her confused.

“Hey, hey! What’re you doing here?” Laura asked, confused, “You said come get you.” Jean–Phillipe said to her, “What happened? You okay?” He asked of her which made Laura even more confused, “Yeah! Yeah, no, I’m fine, really.” She assured him, “You didn’t sound fine and you don’t look fine.” He told her as he examined her face and then went to gently take her arms.

“Come on, I took the rest of the day off, whatever you need, okay?” he asked of her, trying to lead Laura out but she wasn’t in the need to, “Uh, no, no, no. No!” Laura said to him, “Jean–Phillipe?” Scott asked as he noticed the two of them, “Jean–Phillipe, I can’t.” Laura said to him as the pair looked at the approaching Scott, “Everything all right here?” He asked, “Does she seem all right to you?” Jean–Phillipe asked.

Laura had tried to assure him, putting a hand on his shoulder, hoping to calm him down, “Okay, take it easy.” Scott told him, “First day back, she gets beat up. No wonder she wants to leave.” Jean–Phillipe told him, “Oh, what the hell are you talking about?” Scott asked as Laura started to realize what was going on, “Uh no, no, no, no!” Laura said towards the two men looking ready to kill each other.

“Jean–Phillipe, please. Scott, I got this.” Laura assured him, making him give a look her way, “Do you?” Scott had asked and as he walked off, Laura had led him away.|“What am I doing here?” Jean–Phillipe asked of her, “Sorry I–I overreacted, I… I didn’t mean, literally, come get me this second.” Laura told him, “Then what did you mean?” Jean–Phillipe asked her.

“Seriously, you’re like a completely different person these days.” he said to her, getting close to the truth, “I’m sorry.” she said, trying to get out of the conversation, “It’s this case. It’s a bitch.” She told him, “I got upset so I asked you to come get me.” hearing that, Jean–Phillipe started to get concerned, “I didn’t say I minded.” he told her, gently holding her arms which Laura tried to look thankful.

As she did, Avs lover spoke, “Look, we need to spend some time together,” he said and hearing that, she nodded towards request, “Figure out what’s suddenly going on with us because… most of it I like…” he said with a smile towards her, “A lot.” and hearing that, she went to kiss him, Jean–Phillipe had returned it, the two of them gentle towards each other before Laura had started to pull away.

“Think about it?” Jean–Phillipe asked her and hearing that, Laura nodded, seeing that, he went to walk off, giving a last glance towards her while the Clone Phone went off, so she answered, “So,|“The woman Avs shot and Bellona are connected.” Zelda said from her place before taking a drag, “Holy watershed!” She said, making Laura confused by the statement as Zelda continued.

“Oaky, Avs probably shot Maggie Chen on purpose. She never told us anything about this.” Zeda said, starting to light up a new one as she continued, “Yeah, she never told her partner either.” Laura told her.|“I can’t keep doing this, Zelda.” Laura said , starting to get worried and now wanting this possibly affect her daughter.|“Bellona was here, she was Avery.” Laura explained.|

“She’s going to get us both busted unless I meet her… Alone.” she explained, “Oh, my God, bad idea.” Zelda told her.|“Yeah. She thinks we have a connection.” Which made Zelda curious, “Do you?” Zelda asked, confused, “Yeah,”|“We’re clones.” Laura had reminded Zelda as if it was obvious, “Right!” Zelda said, recalling.|“So, what do the cops know?” Zelda asked on her floor.|

“She’s a religious fanatic, but I don’t think she’s a sniper.” Laura told her.|“Bellona’s kills, they’re personal. She’s a loner, probably abused as a child. But Katja was cold, clinical, like a hit instead of revenge” Which made Zelda curious, “Okay, so the fish reads Christian.” Zelda told her as she looked at the computer, “And, and, uh, crafted on to a weapon, a personal crusade.”

That made her pause, “Did the bullet casing have a fish on it?” She asked Laura.|“No, nothing like that. Is that it?” Laura said, thinking maybe it was on the gun or worse, “You know, when I’m seeing this–|“Branded onto Maggie Chen, I’m thinking that she’s not a lone warrior.” Zelda said, “To extreme creationist types we would be abominations, and that’s not even adding in the Mutant Hate groups.” she continued.|

“Like not God’s children but Satan’s.” She said, “So they hate us. Like every other Mutant Hate Group.” remembering when they went after her brother and that was BEFORE she found out she was one, “And, and she’s killing us even though she is identical to us.” she told Zelda.|“Well, but if you were a messed up, abused,” Zelda told her, starting to get into a rant.

“Loner whose faith compels you to belong and somebody that you trusted told you that this was the way to redeem yourself in– in the eyes of God, I mean…”|“Yeah, I might become an angry angel too.” Laura said, recalling what she did back in New York, “Okay, got it. Thanks.” Laura told her before hanging up before heading back in.|Laura walked in and saw that there was Scott approaching.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto|Toronto, Ontario

“Something you want to tell me?” He asked her, “About Jean–Phillipe? No.” Laura told him, “I’ve got him wrapped around my little finger.” Laura explained as she started to shrug off her jacket, “What’s he talking about? Leaving.” Scott asked of her, making Laura sigh annoyed, “We just got you back, Avs.” Scott told her, “I know. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Laura explained.

“Things are just messy right now.” and Scott started to calm down, but Scott wasn’t happy, “I heard that.” Scott said, “But we don't bring that shit in here, right?” The Mutant asked of her, “I know.” Laura said to him, annoyed, “It’s so freaking embarrassing, don’t worry, it won’t happen again.” Laura assured him, but he didn’t seem satisfied at the answer, “I thought you two are calling it quits.”

“Yeah, we were,” Laura told him, “But now we’re trying to work it out.” The Feral assured, “You know how things go.” he said to her, “Right.” Scott said to her, “Let’s get back on track.” Scott told her, deciding to focus, “Let’s get back on track.” Scott said to her, “This killer, you had a close quarters run–in with her, did you get anything else? Something she said?” Scott asked her.

“If she said anything, I would’ve known she was a woman.” Laura told him, there was a pause, he looked into her eyes as he said this, at least before nodding, “Yeah. We’ll check with Beckwith. She’s making progress on Jane Doe.” He told her, “Mm.” Laura said, not happy to hear that, “Should have facial reconstruction soon.” Scott assured before going to walk off, “Great.” Laura said, knowing she was screwed.

Sighing, Laura had dropped the file and started to think how she was going to survive this– there was a ringing and hearing that, she took the phone and answered, “Detective Connor.” She said, getting used to the name now.|“Things must be getting uncomfortable there for you now.” Bellona said, sitting on the floor.|“Bellona, you forgot something.” Laura said to her, “Your friend Maggie.”|

“Oh, you’re a terrible detective.” Bellona said as she checked on her healed parts, “Avery figured that out.” She told Laura.|“Well, Avery shot her, not me, if it’s revenge you’re after.” Laura whispered, making sure that she wasn’t noticed, “It’s not about revenge,”|“It’s about you.” Bellona told her, “Right, we have a connection.” Laura said to her as Bellona took a breath.

“You want to tell me about that?” Laura asked her, “In person.” Bellona ordered, “You have my invitation.” Bellona told her before hanging up.|As she did, Laura saw an email sent which she opened, revealing a video of Bellona in the station and an address, “Apartment 305, 484 Kensington Ave.” On it, Laura had written the name down before she played the recording.

“My name is Detective Avery Connor.” She said, making Laura try to keep the volume LOW, enough for her to hear it as the footage continued, “I murdered Margaret Chen.” She said, crying, the footage looking convincing as Laura listened, “It wasn’t an accident. I shot her on purpose.” Which was when Laura paused her, stopping that and leaning back, thinking what she needed to do.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto

“I gasping for a fag?” Gabby went, looking to Bobby as she said this, “No, you’re not, Laura never smoked.” He told her, “Great, I hate the smell anyways.” Gabby told him, keeping to the accent as they arrived at the spot, “Okay, it’s curtain time.” Bobby told her, the two of them getting ready to get out of the car, “So, just remember that an insult is a greeting but you’re trying not to lose your temper.” He added.

“Jessu, I’d rather be positive.” Gabby told him before going to leave, “And, um… Wait!” he said, but she was already leaving so he went to pay the sab, “Um… thanks.” He said to them before getting out, Jubilee waiting for them at the entrance, arms crossed, “Over slouching, you’re over slouching.” He started to add, “Shut up.” Gabby said, copying Laura better.

“Now you’ve got it.” He told her as Jubilee approached, “You’re here, great, hey, Gabby.” Jubilee said before leaving them to the door, “I’ll try and help, but she’s got eys like a hawk and ears like a rabbit.” Jubilee said just as the door opened, “Oi oi, Mrs. K!” Bobby said, looking to the three of them, her letting Jubilee in who proceeded to look back as Mrs. K gave a look to Gabby.

“Not driving a nice, new Jag today then?” She asked her, “It’s in the shop.” Gabby said, keeping to Laura to the best of her abilities, “Mm–hmm.” Mrs. K went, not believing her as Gabby tried to copy Laura, however she could, “So can I see Rina or what?” Gabby asked her, there was a small silence, Mrs. K giving a look before she went to move aside, Gabby and Jubes going to walk in.

As they did so, Mrs. K looked towards her son, “What are you gaping at?” She asked of him, but instead of answering, he went and entered the house to see Gabby meet Rina, “OKay, so what now?”” She asked Jubilee, making the Chinese American take a breath before looking upstairs, “I’ll go get her.” Jubes promised her before going and heading to start the test.

Apartment 305, 484 Kensington Ave|Toronto Police Station, Toronto

Laura had driven up the address, looking around, cautious of whatever might come as she headed there.|“Anything I can do?” Jean–Paul asked as he approached Scott who was looking over the board, “You ever fight a woman?” Scott asked, having experience with it, “Of course, I’ve been in a few scrapes.” he added.

Seeing there was no amusement, he continued, “Look, they do say, crazy makes you strong.” Jean Paul said to him, “But women, they look different, fight different, smell different.” He told her, “This woman is a trained sniper.” Jean Paul told her, “Yeah, I asked Jean, she said that the kill didn’t line up with the methodology, besides, Avs taking her for a man, that flies with you?” He asked the speedster.

“Mm.” he said, not sure, he’s known her for years, “The whole time it feels like she’s got something else chewing on her leg.” He told her, “You know, civilian shootings are hard to shake. Maybe she’s back too soon?” Jean Paul asked of him, “I don’t know if that’s even it.” Scott told him which made Jean Paul look around, “Where is she anyway?” He asked Scott who looked, seeing her desk empty.|

Laura had started to type in the code and the door had opened.|“Could be she’s just… Elle est en train de régler ça avec son petit ami, n'est-ce pas ?(working it out with her boyfriend, right?)” He asked Scott who was at her desk, looking around, seeing the picture with Jean–Phillipe’s eyes scratched out, “What?” Jean Paul asked, “Nothing.” Scott said, putting it face down as he searched.

The man checking her fuels and then her notepad and noticed indents on it, “So what now, invisible ink?” Jean Paul asked of him as Scott saw she was looking at the Maggie Chen Files, 305–484 Kensington, her address, written on it, “Mind the store, JP.” Scott said, getting up and then rushing out, “Maybe I should come with?” JP asked and hearing that, Scott paused, thinking.

“You mind running a few red lights?” he asked her, “Pas de problème, quoi de neuf ?(No problem, what’s up?” he asked him, “You’ll know when I do.” Scott said, the two of them getting up and then moving to find out what they were going to see there, the pair of them moving to the outside, JP had readied himself before going and running ahead, his speed letting him go ahead of them.

Apartment 305, 484 Kensington Ave|Kobayashi Residence, Toronto

Laura had started to walk up the stairs, cautious as she heard people laughing, starting to run upwards, taking a breath, Laura had drawn the claws in her left hand and the pistol ready in her right.|Gabby was sitting on the couch, “Rina, your mum’s waiting.” Mrs. K said, “Hurry up, come on.” She said as Jubes herded her and Shogo down and towards the living room.

Gabby mystified as she saw another child, like looking at if her life went another direction, it made her smile, “There she is, look, she’s here.” Mrs. K said to her, making Rina start to love her smile, cautious as she held a paper in her hand with a picture of her– of Laura on it, “She won’t bite, Love.” Mrs. K told her, seeing that, Gabby started to get up, making sure to stay in character, “What? You shy now or something?”

Jubilee started to shake her head behind Mrs. K before she glanced back so the woman stopped while Shogo looked at her confused, “Is that for me?” Gabby asked, bending over to be at eye level, trying to draw attention away, so she lifted it up, Gabby gasped, impressed, “Can I see it?” she asked of her, so Rina had walked forward, “How about a cuppa in the kitchen?” Bobby whispered to Mrs. K.

“Wow.” Gabby said as she looked towards the image while Jubes and Shogo had stayed, as they did so, Gabby lifted her arms, “Give us a hug.” She asked, lifting her arms up, but Rina didn’t stop closer, instead she looked unsure, “Rina?” Shogo asked his friend while Gabby spoke, “I’m sorry we haven’t seen each other in a long time,” Gabby said, starting to go apologetic.

Like she was for Wade and Taylor when she came back from a long trip for work, “But we can change all that, see each other all the time.” She promised, planning to get Laura to do as much, there was a moment of silence, Jubes really wishing that Laura was there for her daughter– “You’re not my mother.” Rina said, well looks like they agreed as Shogo had gotten ready to lunge.|

Laura walked up the stairs and as she did, ready to fight whoever it was.|Jubes caught her son ready to tackle Gabby, making Gabby smirk, chuckling nervously, “Don’t be silly.” Gabby said, trying to recover, “If course I’m your mum. Who else would I be?” She asked of Rin while Jubes was trying to calm down her son.|Laura had kept going upwards, her senses on overdrive as she looked.|

“You just look like her. Like a shapeshifter.” Rina told her.|Laura had her gun ready when all of a sudden, a door burst opened, she retracted her claws and hid the claws under her jacket as a pair of men walked out and turned to leave.|“It’s still me, Rina.” Gabby assured her, “What do you call me?” Rina had asked, crossing her arms as she asked this, ready for any questions.

“Monkey.” Gabby answered, “What else.” Rina said, unconvinced and hearing that, Jubes was about to answer, at least before Shogo had pushed his mother out of the rooms, she didn’t want to hurt him and it made it easy for him to get her out and making Gabby take a guess, “Monkey… Bum… Face?” she asked of her, “Where’s my mom?” Rina asked, having her answer and not amused.|

Laura had checked her phone, calling and leaving a message, “Scott, if you’re hearing this, you found a body. It’s not Avery. It’s me.” Laura told her, “My name is Laura Echs and you’re about the only person I trust to figure the whole thing out.” The Mutant told him.|Hearing that, Shogo had let his mother in while Gabby had put the paper on the table, dropping the accent and lie, “Rina, your mother couldn’t be here right now.”

That made the girl and her best friend curious, “Why?” The pair asked in unison.|Laura started to approach, gun at the ready, her claws popped in her left, not sure what she was going to see, shaking her sides when all of a sudden a voice shouted out, “走開！(Go away!)” The woman shouted at her, making Laura aim, “Police! Stay inside.” The feral ordered.

Hearing that and seeing that she had a gun, the woman closed the door and let her walk forward, looking for the door.|“Because she’s out there right now, doing something very brave.” Gabby assured her, “I can vouch for that, she’s making sure everything is safe, so you two can be together.” Jubes told Rina and Shogo.|Laura got closer and closer, finding the door, she had been tense, very tense.

She went to open the door, finding Bellona there, arms raised, Bellona had smelled her before she walked in, “I’m unarmed.” Bellona whispered towards her as Laura closed the door, “Turn around.” The woman ordered, making Bellona lower her arms slowly, “Turn around, all the way.” Laura said, starting to lose her emotions and more emotionless as she looked towards her.

“Kneel.” Laura ordered as Bellona looked towards her, “I’m guessing you know how.” She said and hearing that, the blonde looked at her, enraptured by her coldness, “That isn’t necessary.” Bellona whispered towards her, “Kneel. Down.” Laura said towards her, claws aimed as well as the gun, making Bellona start to smile, “You’re different than the others.” Bellona said, “Colder… you remember killing…”

“Yes, I do… like how easy it is.” She warned Bellona before going to stab her in the side with her fist not popping her claws, she didn’t want to leave blood just yet, “You want to talk, let’s talk.” she ordered of Bellona who was gasping for air, “I think that hurt.” Bellona told her as Laura slowly circled towards a chair to sit, “Yes, I think I’ll watch while you answer me.” she said before going to sit in said chair.

“Where did you come from?” Laura asked, thinking there must have been some origin to her, “I came out the woodwork. Where did you come from?”  Laura had asked, “God sent me.” Bellona told her, “Right.” Laura said to her, “So you don’t know either.” Laura had concluded, “You don’t know God.” Bellona said, disliking her statement, “This God?” Laura asked, pulling out the knife.

“The one branded on your friend, Maggie Chen?” Laura asked of her, “Maggie helped make you.” Bellona hissed towards her, going to press her hand to Laura’s leg, almost like… it was intimate, caring even, “And she saw the light and came to our side.” Bellona told her, shocking Laura, “Avery killed her to protect us.” Laura whispered towards Bellona, “I can save you… from the Канібал.” Bellona said to her.

But hearing that, Laura had smacked her hand aside, “Right, ‘cause we have a connection.” she said to her, “I can see a light in you.” Bellona told her, “There’s a light in all of us.” Laura had responded, not believing that she had anything like that, “No! No! NO!” Bellona said to her, getting upset, sniffling, “The others, poor copies of God’s image of human beings.” Bellona told her, getting more and more upset.

“But not you? You’re special?” Laura had asked her, but instead of speaking, she had only smiled towards her, “They told you you were the original, didn’t they?” Laura asked, having an idea of what they had put her through, but  before either of them could say anything, there was a noise, a door buzzing, and hearing that, she started to consider her next move, Bellona could wait.|

Jean Paul had been pulling at the door as Scott had come in and the moment he saw them, he went to burn the lock out, he’d pay for it later as the duo had come in, Jean Paul running upwards, flying past any of the steps.|Laura had seen Bellona turn so she took her pistol and aimed at her again, “Your people… it’s not true what they said.” Laura warned, “We’re genetic identicals.” she said, but Bellona wasn’t listening.

“Let me save you.” she asked, “You, me, that– the German you killed, we’re all made the same.” which was making Bellona start to shake her head, upset, “Whoever told you different hates you as much as they hate us.” Laura snapped towards Bellona, “You’re wrong.” Bellona whispered towards her, starting to stand up and as she did, Laura saw the damage, how upset she was… “What happened to you, Bellona?”|

Jean Paul had his pistol aimed, ready to shoot anything as he started to go slow, walking through the area as Scott started to get back.|“Stay back.” Laura warned towards her as she started to approach, pressing the barrel to her forehead, “Can you fell it?” Bellona whispered, sounding almost… desperate, to be proven true about the connection that was there when there was a banging on the door.

“Avery?” Jean Paul had said on the other side, banging on the door, looking at Bellona and then back, she started to consider what was going on, “Avery?” Jean Paul asked, the banging getting harder, “Avery?” He asked again as the banging got harder and Bellona stepped closer, “Avs, are you in there?” Scott now said, two of them, great as she considered what to do and made a BAD choice, “Go, run!”

Pushing her out and away from there, the other Mutant started to head out through the window, going to leave that way, “You don’t feel it?” Bellona asked, giving one last look at her as she left the room, as she did, there was a pulse from Scott, burning through the lock to let them in, “There’s no one here.” was the first thing Laura said, bring back the Avery persona as she said this.

“You’re here.” Scott snapped towards her, “Why?” he asked, Jean Paul going to run through the area, searching for any signs, “Avery?” he asked as she tried to figure out what to say, “The apartment of the woman you killed? What the hell are you thinking?” Scott asked, surprised at her as she started to think on what exactly she was going to say to get out of THIS situation.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto

“How can you be my Auntie Gabby?” Rina asked as the four of them had been making pictures together, “My mom doesn’t have any sisters.” Rina told her, “My mom doesn’t even have a mom.” which Gabby started to think, “Well, it’s very complicated.” Gabby had explained to her, “Um, but, Rina… I’m sorry about this but it’s very important that you keep this a secret.” Gabby explained to her.

Hearing that, Jubes looked to her son, “Which means NO ONE else can know.” She explained to Shogo who nodded, “Right?” She said, before she could say anything, they heard the sound of Mrs. K approaching which made Rina look at her, “Getting on for bedtime, Rina love. Up you go, get your PJs.” She said to the girl who went to get up and as she id, Gabby had offered her hand, “Pinkies.” Gabby said to her.

Rina had taken her pinky and wrapped it around Gabby’s, “Bye, Mommy.” she told her, making Jubes relieved alongside Gabby as  they hugged, Gabby letting her go so Mrs. K had went to move her along, “Scoot, you too, mister.” Mrs. K said to Shogo who hugged his own mother before going to follow them, “Thanks for everything.” Gabby said before she and Bobby went to leave.

“Well you kept your word. You showed up.” Mrs. K told her, “I mean Rina.” Gabby said to her, “She’s well and that’s, uh, down to you.” Gabby said to her before going ot leave, “Laura.” Mrs. K said, making the three look at her, anxious, “I’m just, uh… I’m not used to an honest word on this subject.” the older woman explained to her, making things a bit awkward, but Gabby also saw a chance for Laura.

“Um, I’d like to do this again, sooner rather than later.” she asked of Mrs. K, “I’m not opposed, as long as you take it slowly.” Mrs. K told her who was glad fo that, “So, I’ll be by tomorrow to walk her home from school?” Gabby offered to her and Mrs. K was a bit surprised, “Straight home. Jubes can keep an eye on us.” She told them, “Well, all right then.” Mrs. K told her.

“Well unleash the doves, world peace must be right around the corner.” Bobby said to the pair, making Mrs. K smile, “Piss off, you.” She told him, making Bobby wave, “I’ll see them out.” Jubilee said as the three of them went to leave the house, “Well, aren’t you full of surprises? You passed. She passed, Jubes.” Bobby told the woman, “She turned K’a head for her encore.”

That was followed by a kiss to the air, “Well, that’s something.” Jubes said while Gabby sighed, “Uh–oh.” Bobby said, looking at them both, “Rina knew right away.” Gabby told him, “No!” Bobby said, “Yes!” Jubilee warned as they headed to a cab, “Oh, shite!” Bobby said and hearing that, they were getting worried about what they were going to do now that she knew.

Toronto Police Station, Toronto

The sirens blared and Jean Paul waited outside of their office as Scott explained it to their CO, “I just don’t get it. It doesn’t make any sense to me.” He said to Laura, “Just explained to us why you were at the home of Maggie Chen.” The Lieutenant asked, “Like I said, I was– I was taking a walk to clear my head, I found myself there.” Laura explained to them, “You just found yourself there.” Scott muttered.

“Yeah.” Laura said towards him, annoyed, “Yes or no! Is there a connection between the Maggie Chen shooting death and this Jane Doe homicide?” The Lieutenant asked of them both, “None.” Laura said to them, not giving anything, “Well, you called this meeting, Avery. What the hell are we doing here?” Scott asked of her, so she started to take a breath to explain what was going on.

“After this Chen thing, I came back to prove that I could, but I– I’m not doing anybody any good, so.” she said, offering her gun and her badge to the Lieutenant, “I quit.” she told them, shocking Scott at the statement, “After all we've done for you?” He asked her, “Yeah, I appreciate it, but, uh–” “But you bail. Why?” Scott asked, “What is it with you?” He scrapped towards her.

“Walking out is not the answer, Connor.” The Lieutenant said to her, but she wasn’t listening, “So how does this go?” Laura asked, dropping the badge on too, “Something like this?” She asked before turning and leaving them there, the Mutant shedding off  the Avery persona, now she just needed to figure out how she was going to survive Bellona and all her crazy.

Toronto, Ontario

Bellona had been cold and walking through the area until seeing that there was a car, the lights turned on and approached her before the man that had given her her mission had approached, stroking the side of her face before going to enter the van and as she did as much, the two of them had started to drive away from there and back towards their base of operations.

Chapter Text

Prolethean Base, Toronto

The man had been caring for Belolona, sanctifying her wounds, , making her remember the pain through prayer as he ensued his angel lived pure, as Bellona started to awaken, he shushed her, wanting Bellona to keep her strength, “William.” Bellona said to him, “Easy now.” William said to the man as he continued to work, “Sleep, child.” He ordered of her, “Sleep.” He said, stroking her head like when he first found her.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto|Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

The night was going on as Normal as Laura looked out the window, making sure that she was safe before opening her laptop, “So the killer’s still out there?” Gabby had asked, “Yes, probably crawled back to wherever made her into a Clone–Hunter.” She said to Gabby.|“Did you have to quit being a cop? Were they close to finding you out?” She asked of Laura who shook her head.

“No, Gabby, but it isn’t why I called.” Laura said to her, “I want to thank you for helping with Rina.” The woman said to her, “Don’t worry about it, you’d have done the same for me.” She told her, “Yeah, I get to see her tomorrow, and, uh… you set that up, so…” Laura said, unsure how she would go around saying this, “Well, she’s a special little girl, like my kids.” Gabby told her.

Gabby had went to go and get back into bed with her wife, Molly looking at her, curious about what was going on as she went to go big spoon for Gabby, “Sorry, but I’m not in the mood tonight.” Gabby said to her, kissing her knuckles, Molly understood and so she had just went to lie in bed with her wife, the two of them preferring intimacy like this when they were able to, especially now that Gabby is taking a break.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

Laura had been taking a shower, trying to clean it all off when she heard the sound of the door opening, taking a moment, Laura had readied her claws, leaving the shower on and hiding behind a corner, she had waited and watched before seeing that it was Jean Phillipe who had been looking into the bathroom, seeing that, she had pulled the claws back and readied a stick.

“Hey! Hey!” She shouted, getting in his sights as he raised his hands in surrender, “Avs! Stop, it’s me!” The man had shouted towards her, making her feign irritation, “Oh, my God. You asshole!” She shouted, only too late realizing that her accent was slipping out, “You’d stab me in the eye with a nail file?” He asked her in shock, but she wasn’t in the move.

“Yeah! You sneak up on me in the shower I AM going to stab you in the eye with a nail file!” she snapped towards him before realizing that there was something, “Aren’t you supposed to be at Cody’s?” She asked of him with confusion, seeing her ‘fear’ he had started to calm down, “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry.” He told her and seeing a chance, she smirked, “How sorry are you?” The woman asked him.

“Avs…” He said to her, but she wasn’t in the mood for anymore talking, “Get in.” She ordered of him, hearing that, he had smiled before starting to strip, the two of them going to enter the shower and enjoy the reunion with each other, it was passionate, it was wet, and it was nice for them as the two had been reunited and they were going to enjoy their time together.

“Avs?” Jean Philippe had asked her, “Mm.” She muttered, “Let’s go away.” He whispered towards her, “You’re off the force. I hate my job.” He said to her, the two of them thinking about that and what it could mean, “Let’s pack our bags. Right now.” Jean Philippe told her, “I’m serious.” and hearing that, Laura had turned to look back at him, “Let’s talk about it in the morning.” She told him.

Ending the conversation, he had started to go to sleep and Laura had been asleep, but there were strange dreams, she had been restrained, she had seen people in full body suits, and medical equipment around and on her, “It’s on the scanner. SHe’s coming out.” One of them had muttered and hearing that, she gasped, her claws popping, “Let’s get her down.” another said as they started to move.

“Now! Just put it in now!” Another had ordered and hearing that, she had tried to break free, she felt that she had nicked one, she nicked one and– Laura had gasped awake, it was sunrise, morning, and as she looked at herself, groggy, Laura got out from the bed, thinking that something was wrong as she looked back at Jean Philippe, before she doing anything else, she had headed to the bathroom.

Getting some water on her face, wiping her mouth, she started to brush her teeth until feeling something in her mouth, making the woman confused as it dislodged, making her cough out something, it was some sort of monitor device and there was some sort of capsule attached, it released a scent, as soon as it hit her, she had flashes, the people in white, the experiments, feeling like someone cut her.

Seeing this and thinking about what this entailed, what this meant for them all, the idea that someone had gotten in there and as she did, Laura had looked back towards the man there, wondering what caused this, who had been the one to do this without either of them knowing? She didn’t know who or what, but it was most likely connected to the clone thing going on.

Checking her body more, she saw the already healing holes from the inside of her elbow, already gone as she heard a knocking, “Hey, you want coffee?” Jean Philippe had asked of her, “Uh, no thanks.” Laura told him as she started to check her body for more things, wondering about that scent before she started to get more nervous before Laura went and started to get out of the bathroom.

Looking , Laura had decided to head to her closet, getting dressed, as she did, the door had opened before Laura could react, “How you doing?” Jean Philippe asked her, “What?” Laura asked, pausing as he approached, looking her over, “No gun, no badge, nowhere to be.” He said to her, analyzing her, “Mm–hmm.” Laura said, trying to think about her next move.

“Let’s leave.” Jean Philippe said to her, “We don’t have any ties.” He said, making Laura look back towards him, “I have three simple words for you…” He said, making Laura get concerned, “Jean–” “Rio de Janeiro.” He said to her, following Laura who had gotten clothes, “I can’t just leave no and think about going to Rio.” Laura told him, “Why not?” He asked her as she walked to the door, putting on a shirt.

“It’s what you wanted, right? Commitment. I’m ready.” He told her and hearing that, Laura turned back to him, “No, I can’t think about this right now.” Laura told him, not wanting to get him suspicious, “What’s wrong?” He asked, having seen her body language, hearing the question, she tensed, “Nothing’s wrong.” She told him, but he wasn’t going to give it up, “You’re shaking like a leaf.” He told her.

“Where are you going?” He asked of her, “I’m just going out for some air. Okay?” She asked of him before leaving the house, but Jean Philippe had kept eyes on her, watching her and wondering what it was that she had been planning and thinking that he was going to figure out what it was as Jean Philippe had started to make his own plans for whatever might happen.

Nieuhaus Residence, Minneapolis|Drake Residence, Toronto

“It’s an electrode from an electroencepalogram array.” Zelda said to her, “A what?” Laura asked her, not recognizing the word, “An EEG helmet.” Zelda explained to her, “It monitors electrical activity in the brain.” Zelda told her.|That wasn’t good, it made both her and Bobby concerned, the latter starting to freeze up, “So it wasn’t a bloody dream, then, was it?” Laura asked her.

“I knew it!” Gabby had shouted who had joined them for the conversation, “How long have I been saying those little grey men dreams meant something?” Gabby asked of her, “Of course they kept an eye on us! We’re their rats in some giant experiment!” Gabby shouted towards them, “Laura, where was Jean Philippe in all of this?” Zelda asked of her, “Uh… there were doctors, um, two or three of them.” Laura said.

“I think I nicked one.” She told them, “He could be in on it, though. Maybe he set it up?” Bobby had asked as Jubilee had come in, looking at them, “Hey, what did I miss?” She asked them, “It seems that we’re lab rats, and somebody must be watching the lab rats, someone we know.” She said to Jubilee as she started to pack up, “Well, I mean, if it were my experiment, yeah,” She told them.|

“I would put an observer close to the subject.” Zelda admitted, it’s what she’d have done, “You know, somebody to keep tabs and– and accumulate data.” Zelda added, thinking about it, “Zelda… what’d they do to me?” Laura asked, the four of them around Bobby’s apartment, waiting for an answer, making Zelda think, “I think you’d know if they’d done anything really, um, invasive.” She said.|

“Oh, my God.” Bobby said, shocked by that while Laura had looked at the other part of it while Gabby started to get angry, “I’m just saying, um, en EEG is like a neurological test, and– and that mark on your arm looks like… a blood sample.” She said, “The pod I don’t know, maybe it’s something unique?” She asked of them, “Most of it sounds diagnostic.” Zelda explained.

“With Paul in on it?” Laura asked, considering that, “I don’t know.” The woman said, “Why? Just ‘cause he slept with you?” Bobby asked, making the other three look at them, “Bee.” Laura muttered, Gabby and Zelda surprised by that, “Yeah, we sort of ended up shagging.” Laura told them, making Zelda take a puff, surprised, “Dude, that’s complex.” She said to the others.

“You slept with Avery’s boyfriend?” Gabby asked her, making Laura look at her, “Right, I forgot for a second.” Gabby said to her, “I mean I’ve done worse, and I MIGHT be sleeping with my spy as well, if it didn’t seem like a great romance novel, I’d be upset.” The woman told the pair of them before she had unrolled the pack, “Here’re the guns you wanted. I’ve gotta go.” Gabby said, glad for her arms dealer.

“Hey, hey, where’s the money?” Laura asked her, making Gabby look at her, “Here, but I want a receipt, Avs never told us what was happening, and look what happened.” Gabby said, not wanting to lose another one of them, “It’s the self–defense fund, yeah?” Laura asked her, “Last time I checked, I’m the only one defending us.” Laura told her and hearing that, Gabby nodded, taking the money out.|

“Here’s 20,000.” Gabby had said, making sure that Zelda could see it.|“Please use it wisely, and let me know if I can help.” Gabby told her, “Yeah, I’ll bring you the receipt.” Laura told her, not really paying attention, Gabby had smiled, “Great seeing you guys!” She said before leaving and as she did so, Laura sighed, looking at the weapon, “I am going to shoot Jean’s balls off.” Laura told them.

“Or cut them off.” Jubilee had mentioned, “Oh wait, just, um… just squeeze them, okay?” Zelda had asked of the group there, “He’s our way into this whole thing.” She said and hearing that, they couldn’t argue that as Zelda continued to speak, “But if my blind subject were suddenly to become… self–aware,”|“It’d either be a Eureka moment or…” Zelda started, the pause worrying the three.

“Yeah?” Jubilee asked, “I would terminate, so… be careful, okay?” She asked them, irritating Laura, “On that note…” Bobby said, going to close the link, “But I don’t get it, how would that even work? I mean your body is made to heal… so is there something they put in to kill you guys?” Jubilee said to them, “Well, according to the cops and what we saw in the ME, they need some Red Bullet.”

Drake Residence, Toronto|Toronto Police Station, Toronto

Before the two of them could ask what the red metal was, Laura’s phone went off, “Shit.” She muttered in annoyance, “Cop station. Third time today.” Laura said to him, “No, don’t answer that.” Bobby warned of his sister, but she was already answering, “Um… Scott, what do you want?” She asked the man, “It’s Raj.” The IT said, surprising her, expecting Scott Summers.

“I’m off the force, Raj.” Laura said to him.|“I know. You okay?” the man asked.|“Yeah.” she said to him, “Okay, well, you know that surveillance shit that I lent you?” Raj asked, surprising that Avery had that.|“I’ll need that back before they inventory.” Raj told her.|“Surveillance shit? She muttered before realizing she said that out loud, “Right. Right.” She told him.|

“And– And, Aver, level with me.” He said, more nervous than before.|“This is just about Jean Philippe, right?” He asked her, “Look, I’ll get it back to you in a couple days, okay?” She told him before hanging up and thinking, “So, Avery had surveillance equipment?” Jubilee asked of them, “So then she was on to Jean too.” Bobby said, the three of them thinking about what that meant.

“The question is, did she find anything?” Laura asked them and hearing that, the two of them looked at each other, “Then we’re going to have to figure out where and we’re going to have to see what it is she saw.” Jubilee said to them with a smile and hearing that, the three of them had started to make up a plan on how they were going to find the equipment and what she discovered.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

“It’s critical.” Molly said on her phone, “One week she’s fine, the next it’s something wild, like a roulette wheel.” She said to the person, “No, I understand that, but I don’t want to give her any reason to react.” Molly said to the person, “Well, you tell me!” She said, getting some clothes, “If she finds out about it, what are our options?” Molly asked as she thought as Gabby had come in, seeing her.

“What’s going on?” Gabby asked her wife, making her stand up and look at her, “I have to call you back.” Molly said as she hung up, “Why– why were you in the vanity?” She asked, they usually kept things for the kids, files for receipts and such, only jewelry when they were dating, “I need… scissors.” She said to Gabby, making her pause, confusing Gabby as she saw them on the top.

Curious as she walked into the closet where Molly was getting dressed, “Who were you talking to?” Gabby asked of her, “Just now?” She asked, “Mm–hmm.” Gabby said to her, “Uh, Big Rich, from work.” Molly told her, “About me?” Gabby asked, “About Susan Teller. She’s all over us this quarter. You know that.” Molly reminded her and Gabby did, so she had consented with a nod.

Seeing the scissors, She smiled, “Oh, good. Um, can you cut this tag off? It’s driving me crazy.” Molly told her wife, showing the tag to her and seeing that, Gabby had felt, wanting to cut it with her claws, but then decided to use the scissors instead and snapping it free, “Much better.” She said, kissing her before walking off, Gabby even more curious at what that was.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

“All right, what do we do if he walks in?” Bobby asked as the three of them started to look, “Shoot him.” Laura said to them, making the pair give a look, “I’m kidding. Just…” “Find the surveillance stuff, right?” Jubilee said to them as they started to move, “And put everything back where you found it.” Laura said to them, “Relax, I used to steal from the mall I lived in.” Jubilee said to them.

“Well good, cause this place is antiseptic.” Bobby told them as they started to look, “Jean’s whole world feel fake now.” He said as Jubilee said, “Agreed, there’s nothing personal here.” Jubes said as Laura looked at them both, “What?” The pair asked in unison, “I don’t leave prints when I burgle.” Bobby reminded, “And I would;ve gone to prison instead of juvie when I eventually got caught.”

Sealing that away for later, the two of them had started to search through everything while Laura was on the computer, trying to find the digital files, , “Trexcom Consulting.” Bobby said as he searched through a card or several, Laura look at them, “If, uh, fake Jean Philippe was observing Avery, what makes you so certain no one’s observing Laura Echs?” Bobby asked as he looked towards Jubilee.

Her back was turned as she examined something, making them both cautious but kept the conversation going, “Who? Mrs. K hates me. I haven’t seen her in a year.” Laura told them, “And I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt, Bobby.” She said as the cryokinetic had started to freeze up and Laura slowly popped her claws, “I brought my kid here, I’d be stupid to risk Shogo.” she told them.

Hearing that, the pair nodded, “A ringing vote of confidence, and yeah, you’d have to be a sicko to bring a kid into those claws.” Bobby said, making Laura glare and wince as she pulled the claws back, still searching, Avery got annoyed, “Nothing on Avs’ computer.” Laura told them, “Nothing. No audio files, no video, no transcripts.” SHe said as Jubilee searched for a paper trail and Bobby looked in the closet.

The three of them converging on the closet and making Bobby surprised, “Holy shit.” Bobby said as he pulled the box down, revealing another gun, “Hey, hey. Hey.” Laura said as she took it and put the item onto the bed, the three had looked, Laura had seen that there was photos from there, “He’s military.” Laura said as they looked at the images, Jubes seeing a Purple Heart medal.

“Looks like you’re not the only one keeping secrets.” Bobby said to them and hearing that he picked up a bottle while Laura had discovered a letter, “What are those?” Bobby asked, “Letters from Avs.” Laura said to them, “To Jean? I want to read them.” Bobby complained, “Uh–uh–uh.” Laura said as she looked, “No, they’re private.” She said before they had put them away.

This was getting to be too much, annoying even, as they looked, “Where the hell is this surveillance stuff?”  she asked, “Don’t know. We’ve searched everywhere.” Bobby said and hearing that, the three knew that there wasn’t anything as they started to walk outside and towards the trunk so that they could see what might be in there, Laura getting the package from there.

“There we go.” She said, opening the surveillance equipment that was in the spare tire compartment, “She wasn’t messing around, was she?” Jubes had asked as they took stock of it, “Maybe it’s time to check out where Jean works.” Laura said and hearing that, Bobby pulled out the card, “Oh, yeah. Trexcom Consulting.” Bobby said to her, “Fake Jean, fake company.” Which made them think.

“I bet you money there’s nothing there.” Bobby said, “I’ll take that action, this much work? There’s bound to be something real.” Jubes told him as they shut the case, “Well… let’s go see.” Laura said to them as she went to get into the car, “I’ll check it out myself, see you later.” The woman said, she had the claws and healing factor, plus a gun if need be as she got ready to find the truth.

Trexcom Consulting|Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough|Drake Residence

Laura had walked into the area, looking around and seeing the office was empty as she walked in, searching around with confusion and then anger, “Of course.” She thought about that, going to walk away when there was a noise, “Avery…” a woman in a skirt and blouse said towards her, “We downsized, remember? Jean Philippe’ office is over here now.” The woman told her.

As she approached, Laura smiled, looking relieved, “Oh, right. Yeah, of course.” She told the woman, “He’s in a meeting.” The woman told Laura, “Oh.” Laura said, seeing an opportunity to escape, “Y–you know what, um… we kinda got into it this morning.” She told her before lifting a bag, “I brought up some lunch as a peace offering.” Laura told the woman, she smiled towards that.

“Come on.” leading her to Jean Philippe’s office.|Gabby had looked out the window and as she did, Molly had went into the shed, making her move.|Laura and the woman had come into his empty office, “I’ll just…” she said to her, “Sure.” The woman said, smiling as she walked off, Laura sitting in a chair waiting for her to leave.|Gabby started to search her side of the closet, looking through the collars and socks.

Everything for her job, the pants  and drawers when she reached the bottom, inside of it there was books, birthday presents for the kids and for her, as well as an article from her uncle Marty about some new idea.|Laura got up from her seat and went to Jean’s side, kneeling, she opened her bog to pull out the device and plugged it into his outlet strip, “Bobby, I hope you can hear this.” She told her brother.

“Yes! Yeah, I can.” Bobby said to her, “Now, you silly bitch, would you get your fanny out of there?” He asked of her.|But instead of leaving, she sat in Jean’s seat.|Gabby had gotten into the garage and was searching through the cupboards, most of it was Chase’s stuff that he left there, some tools, devices, but as she was starting to give up, closing the compartments, one door didn’t close completely.

Looking, Gabby had found a case and pulled it out, locked, she started to think what to do, looking for a key since she didn’t want to let it slip that she was snooping.|Laura had searched through the drawers for anything.|Gabby was still searching through the compartments and saw that a saw was there, it made her a bit worried, but using a saw instead of her claws might make it look like a break in.

Sawing, trying to break through it.|Laura had reached the bottom left drawer, it was empty when jean had opened it, so she had dropped her bag on the desk, “You brought me lunch.” He said, curious about what she was up to, “Yeah.” Laura told him, “Olive branch.” Laura said.|Bobby had listened in, waiting for whatever he’d say, “Avs, this morning…” “You want to talk about it?” Laura asked him.|

Hearing that, Jean didn’t respond with words, but instead to gently move the chair out so that he could stand before them, hands on the back, trapping her in a way, “I’d rather talk about last night in the shower.” Jean Philippe told her he said, Laura knowing that he was listening and snacking, “Jean… I came to bring you lunch, that’s all.” She assured him, getting up, looking happy as she pushed her hair back.

Jean going to help and smooth out her hair and as he did, “Something’s changed with us.” Jean Philippe said to her, starting to kiss the side of her her neck, “Mm.” Laura said, liking it, but she was thinking with her head right now, or at least she was trying to, “I know you can feel it.” Jean Philippe said to her before pausing, surprised, “What happened to your scar?” Jean asked, losing the passion in his voice.

“What?” She asked him.|That made Bobby stop, worried for his sister, “The scar on your neck from the bike crash.” He told her.|“It’s gone.” he said, thinking about what that could be, so Laura backed away and turned, making sure to look confused, “Oh. Really?” She asked him, starting to walk off to get a bag, “I– I’m using a new lotion.” Laura told him, trying to wave it off.

“Let me see.” Jean said, circling the other end, making her start to laugh nervously as he started to search, “You will try anything, won’t you?” She said to him, making Jean Philippe smile, “I will.” He told her, making Laura relieved, at least a little bit, “But I gotta get back to work.” He told her, “Thanks for lunch.” He said to her and hearing that, she got her bag, “See you tonight.” Laura told him.

“Okay.” Jean said back to her before she walked out to leave, as she did so, giving a glance back.|Bobby had been waiting and watching.|Jean Philippe had went back to his laptop and opened it, searching through his old videos of him and Avery, he saw the scar, the large scar that something like lotion wouldn’t make disappear, “Madison.” Jean said, getting up.

Bobby listened as said Madison had entered the room.|“Clear my afternoon, okay?”  He asked the woman.|“Something came up.” He told her, “Shit!” Bobby said out loud, worried for his sister.|Gabby had kept on sawing, trying to get through when the garage door opened, making her pause and turn, knowing how this made her look as Molly drove in, she had dropped the saw and walked to her with the case.

“Gabby, what are you doing?” Molly asked as she got out of her car, approaching her as Gabby turned and walked back, pacing as she pulled the cord to shut the door, trying to think, “Uh…” Molly said, stopping the garage door from closing on her as she walked under, thanking herself for her strength as she approached her wife, “What’s in the box, Molly?” Gabby had asked of her.

“It’s… private.” Molly said, looking like she was trying to hide something, but Gabby wasn’t in the mood for it, the thought of her wife being her monitor, it angered her, “No, it isn’t! What– what is in it?” Gabby had questioned, “Honey, please tell me what’s in the box.” Gabby said and hearing that, Molly shook her head, “I am entitled to a little privacy, it’s nothing bad, I promise.” Molly told them.

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you.” Gabby snapped towards her, wanting to know even more, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Molly asked, hurt by the statement, “Just please, open the box, Molly.” Gabby told her before she went to tear it off, willing to use her claws before Molly had grabbed it, “Gabby, give it back.” Molly had said, “Just please open it!” Gabby had said to her.

The two of them struggling with each other, wrestling the box between each other, “Gabby…” Molly started to say before getting angry, “Gabby, stop it!” She said, using her enhanced strength to throw her off, making her land on the tools there, cutting her hand badly, “I– I’m sorry, Gabby.” SHe said, making Gabby cock her head, “What?” Gabby asked, confused, “Hold on, I’ll get the first aid.” Molly said, taking the box.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Zelda was in the lab, working with samples that she was checking, looking under one of them through her slides and saw it, “Yeah, the blood looks fine. No infection.” Zelda told her lab partner, “What kind of symptoms are we talking about?” Henry McCoy had asked of her, “Um… shortness of breath, coughing up blood… that sort of thing.” Zelda had told her lab partner, “Who’s the subject?” Henry asked.

“Uh, subjects, and if I told you that, I’d have to kill you.” Zelda had warned of him, making Henry laugh and hearing that, Zelda joined, “Um, can you run a PCR on these samples, see if there are any genetic markers?” she asked of him, “You’re thinking antitrypsin deficiency?” Henry asked of Zelda, “Cystic fibrosis?” He added which made Zelda nod, “Yeah, that kind of thing.” Zelda told him.

“An, um, can you sequence for Cytochrome C?” Zelda had asked, leaving the microscope to look at him, “The bar–code gene?” Henry asked, surprised, “Mm–hmm.” Zelda said before looking back at her world, “That’s the one we use for species differentiation. The one that The FoH and Trask uses for X–Gene markers.” Henry had reminded her, “Is it?” Zelda said, hating them as much as him.

Smiling and giving an awkward chuckle, “What’s in it for me?” He asked of her her, “Um, how about you get to have sex… with yourself?” Zelda asked him, “Thanks, but my girlfriend in astrophysics makes that impossible.” Henry told her, making the pair of them chuckle, “I’ll get on it.” He said, walking off, as he did, Zelda heard something, “Arrêtez.(Stop it.)” a woman said on the other end.

Making Zelda look at the sight, “Arrête ça, je te dis.(Stop it, I’m telling you.)” the woman said, looking more annoyed than upset, “C'est difficile pour moi aussi.(It’s hard for me too.)” she said, making Zelda curious, “Oui.(Yes.)” The woman said, “Non, tu ne peux pas venir ici, car–(No, you can’t come here, ‘cause–)” The woman continued, making Zelda all the more curious as she listened in.

“Parce que j'ai du travail à faire, parce que–(Because I’ve got work to do, because–)” she started, huffing, “Allez–(Come on–)” The woman said before she had noticed that Zelda was watching her, making her more private than before, “Bref, il faut que j'y aille.(Anyway, I’ve got to go.)” She said before turning the phone off and tossing it onto the table, annoyed with whoever it was.

“I’m sorry.” She said to Zelda and hearing that, Zelda waved it off while the woman went to leave, forgetting a piece of paper, she had went to lock her case and examined it, seeing that it was a letter, one that was about her grades, a transcript from her transfer, it was interesting… VERY interesting, and Zelda had looked back to the path of the woman which made her start to think.

Grade School, Toronto|Drake Residence, Toronto

“He’s a bastard.”Laura muttered, “Who?” Jubilee had asked of Laura, “Jean Philippe. Avs loved him, but h–he wouldn’t love her back and he wouldn’t leave her.” Laura told  she said, “Mm. Well, he’s certainly changed his tune now, hasn’t he?” Bobby asked of them both, “Laura, he’s falling for you.” Bobby warned and hearing that, Jubes sighed, “God, what a mess.” Laura said to them.

That was when they had heard the sound of a bell ringing, “We’re outside Rina and Shogo’s school.” Laura told him before taking a breath, “Of all the things that scare me right now, Bee, Jubes, this one’s the heaviest.” Laura said to the pair, “You know she can’t wait to see you, right?” Bobby asked her, “Yeah, thanks.” Laura said, starting to actually tear up, “She’s the only thing that really matters, you know?”

And hearing that, the pair of them had a similar idea.|Before Bobby could say more, there was a knocking on his door, “I know. Um, give her my love, okay?” he asked, hanging up and opening the door to see the ME, “Romeo.” He said, “Hey.” Romeo said with a smile, “So glad you could step away.” Bobby said, “From the morgue?” Romeo had asked as he walked in.

“Uh, trust me, scheduling isn’t really an issue.” He said as Romeo had walked into the apartment, only for Bobby to slam the door shut.|The children had ran out, shouting and as they did, Laura got anxious, waiting as the pair had come out, seeing her, Laura started to tear up, “Hey. It’s me this time.” Laura told Rina as she knelt, “I know.” Rina told her, going to hug Laura, and it was the greatest feeling she ever had.

Chapter Text

Grade School, Toronto

“God, I missed you so much.” Laura said, starting to tear up, “I missed you too.” Rina had told her and hearing that, Laura had started to laugh towards her, “Why are you wearing such fancy clothes?” Rina had asked of her, “Ah.” Laura said towards her, “You don’t miss a thing, do you?” Laura asked as Jubilee had been making sure that Shogo was fine while Laura had made sure Rina was okay.

“Are you okay, Mommy?” Rina had asked of her, “Yeah.” Laura whispered, “I am now.” She told her before focusing, “God, you’re so big.” Laura told her, “Yeah, gives her an advantage when the two of them wrestle.” Jubes had told her, “I’m still the smallest kid in my class.” RIna had told them, making the two older women laugh towards each other, “Well, you’re big to me.” Laura told her.

Toronto, Ontario

“How come you never told me about Auntie Gabby?” Rina asked her mother as the four of them walked home, “Yeah! She tried to pull a Parent Trap!” Shogo told her, “I didn’t know her.” Laura had explained towards them, “She looks just like you.” Rina had added, “Yeah.” Laura said, “I know I was surprised, “I thought that Laura played some sort of mirror trick on me.” She told them.

“One day, I’ll explained it all to you. Yeah, monkey?” Laura asked her daughter, “Can I know too?” Shogo asked them, “Yeah!” Rina had promised her best friend as they continued, to walk, at least before Rina had lost her smile and started to think, “Is someone trying to hurt us?” She asked and hearing that, Laura lost her smile as she thought on how to answer the question.

“Why do you ask that?” Jubilee asked, trying to feign curiosity, “Gabby said mommy’s making sure we’re safe.” Rina had told Jubilee, unaware to either one of them, there was someone watching them, observing them, “Hey. Hey. No.” Laura said as she bent down to look her daughter in the face, “You’re safe, Rina. Shogo. I promise.” Laura had told them both.

“Okay?” Laura asked them, making the pair of them nod towards them, “You coming in?” the voice of Mrs. K had asked  and hearing that, they looked to the woman at the front door, waiting ror the four of them who had went and walked in, Mrs. K happy to see the group there and went to make some tea for them all to enjoy themselves, unaware of the one keeping an eye on them.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Zelda had been walking down the hall and as she did, the woman noted that the woman from before was cleaning up her makeup, looking to be composing herself, it made Zelda a bit nervous before she had went and stood, unsure what she was supposed to do before going to pat her on the shoulder, surprising the woman who looked at her, “Hey. Sorry. You just forgot this in the lab. Sorry.” Zelda told her.

“Thank you.” The woman said, making Zelda about to leave before the woman had approached, “”But… full disclosure. I, um… did peek.” Zelda said, a bit worried about that as the girl looked at her, “You’re French.” Zelda said towards her, “You have killer grades.” which made the woman smile towards her, “Thank you.” She said towards her, “Um, um… Oh, God. I am so sorry. I’m not usually like… like this.” she told Zelda.

“Oh. Bad breakup?” Zelda asked of her, “Yeah, well, we’re an ocean apart, so…” “Mm, yeah. Long distance never works.” Zelda told her, making a small silence that made her respond, “Um, you’re in microbiology too, right?” She asked the Frenchwoman, “Yes. Um, immunology. I study host–parasite relationships right about now.” She told Zelda, “Oh, cool, cool. Yeah, I’m evo–devo.” Zelda told her.

That gave her a confused look before it clicked and she snapped her fingers, “Evolutionary development.” She told Zelda who nodded, “Yeah, yeah. That’s– that’s what we call it here.” Zelda said to her, “Yeah.” “Yeah.” The two of them went to each other before offering her hand, “Jeanne.” She told Zelda, “Zelda.” The woman said to her, “Enchanté(Nice to meet you.)” Jeanne said to her, “Enchanté” Zelda repeated.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto

Laura had started to pull out a few things there, “You’re so independent, aren’t you?” Laura asked as she went ot pick up her sitting daughter, “Hm, monkey?” She asked of her as Jubilee and Mrs. K had looked towards her, “Little monkey?” Laura continued, “Remind you of anyone?” Mrs. K asked of her, “Really? Who?” Jubilee had asked of her, “Me, but I was much angrier, wasn’t I?” Laura asked.

“Even small.” Laura told her, making Mrs. K look at her, “You were the one who introduced me to punk rock, though.” Laura told Mrs. K, “Yeah.” Mrs. K said, “The little doll you were took all of the attitude, none of the politics.” Mrs. K said, making Jubilee confused, “Doll?” Jubes asked her, “Yes, back when we first got her, she was this emotionless thing that was more likely to attack than cry.”

That made the woman give her small laugh towards that while Jubilee was curious about it, as Laura had stopped, looking towards her daughter who was playing with Shogo, “I’m just happy she doesn’t have to bounce around like I did, that she didn’t close herself off in some little white Wonderland.” Laura told her, remembering that recurring nightmare that she had as a child.

“I was her age when I came to live with you in London, yeah?” Laura asked of her, “A little bit older.” Mrs. K said, not wanting to think about how she had found the child, “Well, you got me this far.” Laura told her,placing her hand on Mrs. K’s, “I know that.” Laura told her, making Jubes and Mrs. K look at her, “I still need your help, though.” Laura told them, “Ah…” Mrs. K said, knowing she had an idea.

“I need you to tell me, uh… what you really know about me.” Laura said to Mrs. K who paused, “Where I came from.” Laura added on, “Why now?” Mrs. K asked as the kids had looked towards them, “I’m trying to square things away.” Laura said, not telling her about the Clones, not yet, “For Rina, you know?” she said to her, “You were part of the foster system. I took in kids.” Mrs. K said, not telling her anything.

“You know, I don’t know who your parents were.” Mrs. K said, and as she said this, Laura had heard that the pace of her heartbeat was increasing, “Yeah, I talked to… family services in Brixton already,  but I just wondered if there’s anything else.” Laura had told her, making Jubilee curious, “Is everything okay?” Mrs. K asked of her, making Laura pause, “Yeah.” Laura told her.

“Yeah, it’s just I was talking about the Foster System and my parents and I guess she got interested.” Jubilee said, both taking a deep sip as they had made sure that they were looking away, but Mrs. K didn’t look that happy, “What about Tom? Tom still in the picture?” Mrs. K had asked of her, “God, no.” Laura said towards her, “That much I can promise. Tom is done.” Laura assured her.

Chop Shop, Scarborough

Tom had been dragged into the Chop Shop where the caucasian bastard was waiting for him, “Okay!” Tom had shouted, he had been forced in, no Mutants at all, making sure he only had some skills and no weapons as he was dragged  in there, “How are you doing, ZD?” he asked, offering his hand towards the man, “It’s good to see you again, sir.” Everett said, offering his hand.

But the man had only been checking on his latest supply on the desk, making sure that there was quality while Zebra Daddy’s enforcer had approached, “Zebra Daddy, she jumped in front of a train.” Everett told him, “I don’t even know why  she did it, all right?” He asked, “I can guess.” The muscle behind him said, “Sure, we had our ups and downs, but everything was fine.” Everett assured him.

“She had the money on her.” Everett explained, but Zebra Daddy had looked towards him, annoyed by the sight of him, “So I’m thinking maybe the cops have it.” Everett told him, “I can find some Mutants, get them in my range and give me one week, ZD.” Everett told him, “I’ll get you your money.” Everett promised towards him, but Zebra Daddy had slammed his hand onto the desk.

“You think I care about your promises? About the money you lost?” Zebra Daddy had snarled, “I know. I’m good for it. And I’ll find you some new product or– No, wait a minute. I’m good for it, ZD. You know me. Please.” Everett had assured him as the Muscle had grabbed him, “You know me, ZD. PLease.” he assured as he was brought to the desk, his hand brought to the desk.

“Wait a minute, ZD. One more week. I’ll get you your money, man! Okay!” He shouted at him, “Okay! Okay!” He said as ZD had just glared towards him, “ZD, please! One more week, man! Okay, give me a minute!” He told him as ZD sighed, “Okay! All right! Okay! All right! Okay!” He shouted towards him, his rainbow aura starting to expand outward, trying to protect him, “You want money? Okay! Okay!” Everett said.

“Give me a minute! I just need to–” He started, the muscle lifting the blade, ready to hack it off until ZD had lifted his hand, “Give me a minute! I just need to–” “I wanted the girl, not the money.” ZD said before he lowered his hand, the grunt cutting Everett’ hand, making  Everett scream as he tried to calm down, “I’m good.” He promised, his aura already working as ZD had given him the new terms.

Strip Mall, Scarborough

Gabby had gotten out of the car and opened the door for her kids, “Okay. One chocolate bar each.” She told Wade and Taylor, giving them both a buck, “That’s it.” She told them, “Okay.” She told her kids before they started to move, “Hold your sister’s hand.” Gabby had told Wade, “Okay? And don’t talk to anybody.” Gabby warned them both, “Okay, Mom.” Wade told her.

“I love you.” She told them, blowing a kiss to the pair of them as she had went to get the gear, giving a glance as the kids had went into the store, she went into the shop, Wade and Taylor had went to the candy, excited as they had  started to pick at it all while Gabby looked around, nervous at anyone like her monitor saw her, “Uh, deterrence or surveillance?” The man asked.

“Uh, surveillance. Something small.” Gabby told him, looking around, “You mean something like, uh… this?” He asked, showing the bug in question, “Wireless, discreet, they call it the nanny cam.” he told her, “Sometimes the nanny’s pinching your valuables.” He explained to her, but she didn’t need to hear that, “SOmetimes your husband’s pinching the nanny, you know?” He asked her with a nod.

Gabby had given a smile, wanting to ignore that statement, “That’s not going to be a problem.” Gabby said to him, “Would you mind showing me how it works, please?” Gabby had asked of him, at the same time, both of them had been looking and getting their candy, jostling each other near Everett who was getting some painkillers, he was really missing the Healing Factor he got from Laura.

Wade and Taylor had accidentally bumped into the man, making them pause, the older boy going in front of his little sister, both pausing, scared they did something wrong, a bit nervous as the man had taken his bag, and surprised that he was getting a Healing Factor from one of them as he leaned down to Taylor’s level, Wade wrapping an arm around his little sister, just to be safe.

“Stay in school.” Everett told them, making sure to remember the aura, it hurt but it always helped, “I mean it, buddy.” He told them, making sure to walk slow so that his powers could work for him as he walked out, chugging a few pills as Gabby had walked out, as she did, he kicked a stone, looking around before feeling some aura from her that was familiar, making him see her.

“Laura?” He asked as Gabby put the device in her bag, she had been confused at his statement, but Everett had laughed, “Laura?” He asked, but Gabby had turned away from him, “Laura.” Everett said, not liking it as he went and approached, going to draw in her aura, but she walked away, so he followed, “Laura.” he said, starting to lose his smile, “Hey, Laura.” He started, chasing after her.

Catching up to her, “Laura, you’re alive! Laura, it’s me!” He said to her, starting to keep up pace, “DId your healing factor kick in or–? Laura. Look at me.” He demanded, getting close to her, “Uh, I–I don’t–” she started, backing away, “Look, it’s nice to meet you, but I don’t know who you are.” Gabby said, her back to a car as she looked at him, “You bitch, your X–Gene kicked in and you faked it?” He questioned.

“You got the wrong person.” She told him, but he got angry instead, “You faked it, you bitch! How could you do this to me?” Everett snapped, his aura starting to expand outwards, making her flinch and try to move away, “Laura, I thought you were dead!” He snapped towards her, “How could you goddamn do this to me?” He snarled towards her before she went to punch him in the face, pausing before he pepper sprayed him.

He had screamed, “Aah! Aah! My eyes! Aw, you bitch!” He shouted towards her as she went to take a taser and stabbed him between the shoulderblades with it, using her self defense tools that she had as he fell, “God damn it!” He shouted, hating that his Healing Factor didn’t work with tasers while Gabby saw her kids, “Ah, there they are…” She said, grabbing them both, “Goddamn! Die!” Everett shouted.

“Okay. It’s a race. Into the car.” She told the pair of them, “Me! Me!” Taylor shouted as the two of them hurried, “It’s a race to get into the car.” Gabby said, getting them in, “Laura!” Everett shouted, “Whoever gets in first wins!” Gabby said, not wanting them to realize what was going on, “Whoever gets in first wins!” She said, “WHo’s that guy?” Taylor asked her, “Ah! Laura!” Everett shouted.

“Okay…” Gabby said as she went to shut the door, “You bitch!” Everett shouted towards her as she had started to get away, but He had her Aura and the Aura of the girl there and it made the man started to get annoyed before he started to search for his own car, getting up and then moving to get to her own car so that she would be able to pay for every problem that came his way.

Kobayashi Residence, Toronto, Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough

Mrs. K had left the four there when Laura’s phone rang, checking the caller ID on the Clone Phone, she had answered, “Hello. Gabby.” She said.|“Some guy had just attacked me, thinking I was you.” Gabby said on her end.|“Who? What’d he look like?” Laura asked, worried about what was going on, “I don’t know. He was…”|“Black, shaved head, dressed nice.” She told Laura.|

“Oh, shit. Tom.” She said, making Gabby confused by that, “What, uh… what happened?” Laura asked Gabby, “I assaulted him back is what happened.” Gabby told her.|“Please tell me that’s not Kira’s father.” Gabby asked of her.|Laura took a breath, hating that she thought that he could be Rina’s dad, “No, no, absolutely not.” Laura told her, thinking what she was going to do.|

“Well, what’s going on with Jean–Phillipe?” Gabby asked of her.|“Well, we think Avs was spying on him.” Laura told her, “We found surveillance gear.”|“Huh, she never told me about that.” Gabby told her, “Is it true? Is he a mole?” Gabby asked, wondering if it was the case.|“I don’t know that yet.” Laura warned, “What’s going on with you?” Laura asked, curious about the Molly end.|

“Nothing, I’m fine. Call me when you know something for sure.” Gabby told her.|Laura had hung up and as she thought, what to do, “Hey there, what’s up?” She asked and hearing that, Laura took at her, “You good?” Jubes asked and hearing that, Laura took a deep breath, thinking before she nodded, “Yeah, for now, I think we’re good.” She told Jubes who nodded.

Trexcom Consulting, Toronto

JP had walked into the room and saw the man who had been contacting him all this time, “Olivier.” He said, “Jean–Phillipe.” The man said, turning to look at him, “What are you doing here? Is something wrong?” He asked of him, “We need to talk about Avery.” Olivier had told him, “How was she this morning?” He asked of JP, making him pause, “Fine. Everything’s fine.” He told him.

Drake Residence, Toronto|Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

Laura and Jubes had walked in and saw that there was the ME in the apartment, “You don’t do this sort of thing much, do you?” Bobby asked Romeo, Laura going to hide behind a corner while Jubes had leaned, making sure to block the sight of him, “You mean with a live person?” Romeo had asked, causing Bobby to pause, “Oh!” he started before chuckling, “Morgue humor. You’re awfully cute.” Bobby said,

“Okay.” Bobby said towards him before he went to kiss him, the two of them enjoying it, lasting a while which annoyed both, “Okay, bye.” Bobby told him, “Bye.” Romeo said to Bobby before going to walk down, so the duo had walked in, “The morgue attendant?” Laura asked as she opened the just closed door, “Really?” SHe asked him, “Eh, he’s good looking.” Jubes said.

“Can you knock? And yes, he is.” Bobby said, “You, not now.” Laura said, pointing to Jubilee, “And brilliant, Bee.” Laura said to him as the pair walked in, “Shagging the bloke that we conned into identifying my body.” She said, “Romeo is the first nice boy I’ve met in ages.” Bobby had rebuked towards her, “What, like six weeks?” Laura asked as she went to get a drunk, Jubilee motioning for one.

“No.” Bobby told her, “At least eight.” Bobby told her, “Where do you think this is going to go, eh?” Laura asked her as Jubilee went to sit down in a chair, “Oh, my God. Oh, I’m so sorry. I completely forget rule number one.” Bobby said, making Jubilee look at him confused, “Rule number one?” She asked him, “That Laura’s life is always more important than mine.” Bobby told Jubes.

“No, it’s just way more difficult.” Laura said, sitting on the armrest of the chair Jubilee said, “Tom is back.” She said to him, “Oh, shit.” Bobby said, getting worried, “The rainbow guy?” Jubilee asked, “Yesh, he ran into Gabby, so he thinks I’m alive.” Laura told them both, “Is that bad?” Jubilee asked, “He was pretty easy to deal with.” She admitted, making the two look at her.

“Tom can… his aura can copy others powers if they’re in range, he wasn’t used to you so– so I’ll figure it out. I’ll… I need to know what happened at Jean–Phillipe’s office.” She told them, taking a breath, “Sorry. I’ve been a bit busy, haven’t I?” Bobby said, “No problem, I’ll give it a look.” She said, going to get up, “Well, it DID record something.” he said, making the three gather to look.

Bobby played the recording for them, “What are you doing here?” Jean–Phillipe said, “Is something wrong?” He asked, “This is it.” Bobby said to them, “We need to talk about Avery,” The man said towards someone, “How was she this morning?” The man asked, “Fine. Everything’s fine.” JP said, “Are you still concerned about her mental health?” The man asked.

There was a pause, making them think about what he was going to say, “No. She’s better.” The man said, “Certainly better.” The man said to JP, “You understand your role as monitor is not to interfere.” The man said, “Monitor?” Jubilee asked of them, “But if there’s anything pertinent I should know… anything at all…” “If there were, I would tell you.” JP warned.

Laura started to shake her head, worried when all of a sudden, her phone– Avery’s phone, had started to ring, “Oh, shit. It’s him.” Laura said, “No, don’t answer that.” Bobby warned, “Are you joking? That’ll make him MORE suspicious!” Jubilee said to them, “Yes.” “No!” Laura and Bobby went as she went to answer, “Hello?” Laura asked, “Avs. Where are you?” JP asked her.

Making her think, “Out. Where are you?” Laura asked him.|“We have to talk.” JP told her.|“About what?” Laura questioned of him, “I need you to come home.” JP Told her.|“Yeah, I don’t think so.” Laura said towards her, hanging up.|Laura started to think on what she needed to do, “He knows something.” Laura said to them, not sure what, “Well, you can’t go back there. Not alone. You know that.” Bobby said.

“No, I can’t. And I’m not going to risk anybody else.” Laura told them as her cell phone beeped, she had looked towards it and the moment she did, Laura started to lose her emotions, starting to go back to her mechanical self, “Oh, shit.” She said, showing them the image, “Oh, my God.” Bobby said, showing the four of them there, “JP followed me straight to Rina.” Laura warned.

As they looked at it, the door opened, making the trio look to see Everett there, glaring at them, fully healed, “Is this a bad time?” He asked of the trio, he walked in, angry, “You tase me, you mace me, then you think I’m just gonna…” he said, annoyed with the woman, “I’m just gonna walk away, like I’m a craven dog?” He demanded of them, “I was working a job.” Laura said, getting up to look at them.

“Oh. Yeah?” Everett asked her, “Yeah, you would’ve ruined the whole thing.” Laura said, hearing that, Jubilee and Bobby looked at her, ready to play along, “Yeah? Guess you’re on a roll now, huh, Laura?” Everett asked, his body starting to glow, his skeleton showing which made Jubilee start to get worried, “And that money that you stole from me.” Everett said, more annoyed with them.

“Pretending to be dead.” He added in anger, “Who do you think took the fall for that?” Everett demanded of her, “Huh?” He asked of her, showing his hand which was damaged, still healing though, “Zebra Daddy took my finger, I’m lucky you and that girl had a healing factor.” Everett said to her, making Laura look away, not wanting to think about that bastard or this one trying to make her feel bad.

“If I don’t come up with a clean 15K.” He said, snapping his finger, making a few explosions as he did so, “He’s going to lobster me.” Everett told them, “A finger every weel until all I have left is a lobster claw.” He snapped towards her, she started to get up, ready to pop her claws, “Sit down. Sit down.” He snapped, tossing a firework which knocked her back, “Hey!” Jubilee shouted, getting up, angry.

But Laura had grabbed her arm, keeping her there, “Do you want the money, or not?” Laura asked him, making Everett pause, the translucence from his body starting to vanish as she walked over to grab some of the money from the emergency fund and gave it to him, “Look, that’s 20K,” Laura told him, “Fifteen for your debt, and then five for your pain and suffering.” Laura said, losing her emotions as she spoke.

“That must have been some play.” Everett said to her, but Laura only shook her head towards him, “Uh–uh.” she said, “This is ‘piss–off’ money, okay?” She told him, “You don’t get to know anything.” Laura told the man who raised his hand, “I’m entitled to know everything.” He told her, making Laura look away from him, “Can I ask you a question? How did you do it?” Everett asked her.

“Lying there in that morgue. I know you Healing Factor is on, but letting it stall, Laura, while I am bawling, I’m crying like a goddamn child.” He whispered, trying to make her feel guilty, just like how he had gotten her to not leave before, but she wasn’t going to let it work, “You know what’s crazy?” Everett asked of her, taking a deep sniff, “You know how stupid I am?” Everett asked her.

“I’m standing here, looking at you,  and all I keep thinking about is Myrtle Beach. You remember?” He asked her, and she was done, “Yeah, that was a long time ago, Tom.” Laura said to him, “I was starting out after Poli–Sci with Angel. You and your in with the homeless.” He said to her, “Yeah, and I’m not proud of how we met.” Laura said to her, “We were on the top of the world, Laura.” Everett told her.

“You were my parasite and I was trying to survive.” Laura snapped towards him, “No, we were in love.” “Because you always tracked me, looked in my memories and made sure I heard everything I wanted to hear.” She told him, “I am glad that I left you.” Laura told him, making Thomas only give a smile, the kind that promised vengeance, “I think she means it, Everett.” Bobby said as Jubilee got ready to fight.

“You want that money?Take it and go, now.” The woman ordered, disliking the guy all the more who only chuckled, “Right now, Tom!” Laura snapped, her claws had popped open, the others at the ready to fight, “Okay.” Everett said, going to take the cash and turned to leave, “This is not over, Laura.” He assured, walking out to leave them, making them all calm down.

“Is every man in your life a complete wanker except me?” Bobby had questioned of Laura, “That’s why I’m taking a break on men.” Jubilee said to them as Laura got her jacket on, “I need you to go to K’s house.” Laura ordered, “Make sure Rina’s okay, yeah?” She asked of them, “You’re not going back to JP’s alone.” Jubilee ordered, “I will not let him threaten my daughter.” Laura told them.

“Laura, you’re not going back to JP’s! Laura!” but it was too late, she was already out of the door, making the two worried about that as they went and started to get their own clothes, “Well, you heard her.” Jubilee said to him, “And if anyone goes after our kids, at least we know who to hurt after.” Jubilee said to him, Bobby in agreement for that as they had prepared to leave.

Kinney–Hayes Residence, Scarborough|Woods, Scarborough

Gabby had found the box in the garage again and got back to trying to unlock it, at least before seeing that the lock was gone, making her annoyed that Molly had already taken everything.|“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry.” Molly assured in front of the fire, “If anything else comes up, I’ll let you know.” Molly said.She went to toss the items in the fire once more to make sure Gabby cannot find anything.

Connor/Charles Residence|Niehaus Residence|Kinney–Hayes Residence

Laura had been out in front, in the car and about to get ready before the phone went off, she had went to take a breath before answering, “Bobby called you?” She asked Zelda.|“Jubilee actually. She just played me the recording. I heard everything. Where are you?” Zelda asked of her, “I’m about to go in and stab JP in the balls.” Laura had told her.|“Wait, Laura.” Zelda had warned, making Laura pause.|

“This is our chance to get answers.” Zelda explained to her.|“He followed me to Rina, Zel.” Laura said to her, “I know, I know, but he also covered for you.” Zelda said towards her.| “Right? That Olivier guy, he asked if anything was wrong, and JP said no. Why?” Zelda asked of her.|“‘Cause I think he may be falling for fake Avs.” Laura told her as she started to check for anything she’d need.|

“Yes! That’s awesome! That– you can use that.” Zelda said, thinking.|“What do you think got me into this mess?” Laura asked of her, “Okay, I know. Just chill.” Zelda said to Laura.|“I think that Olivier guy, he runs JP.” Zelda said to her, “It– It sounds like some kind of double blind.” Zelda explained, thinking.|“What are you going on about?” Laura had asked of Zelda, “They are keeping JP in the dark too.” Zelda said.|

“Right? So that he can’t skew the results either.” The scientist explained.|But Laura was cocking the gun, readying herself to go at a rang,e just to be safe or if he ran, “You mean he may not even know he’s watching a clone?” Laura asked, confused, “Yes, right.” Zelda explained.|“But Olivier definitely knows.” Zelda said, already trying to think about the organization, “Okay? He’s the one that we need to get to.”|

“You mind if I get through JP first?” Laura asked her, “Laura.” Zelda said to her, but Laura had already ended the call.|Zelda had started to get worried about what she was going to be planning.|Gabby had looked at the jewelry box, making sure that it looked like it was just her being sloppy as she went to put the camera in, as she did, Molly had come in to go to sleep.

“Are– are we good, Gabby?” Molly asked, already holding a pillow, ready to go to the couch, “Molly, Molly, Molly…” Gabby said to her wife as she went to get to bed, “You’re right.” Gabby told her, “Everyone deserves their privacy.” THe woman said, wiping off her makeup, revealing her scars with a wide grin, seeing them and her looking fine, Molly had went to go into bed with her.

Connor/Charles Residence, Toronto

Laura had entered the house with no lights on, but she could smell him, could hear him, she walked in, one of her hands claws starting to pop when the light behind her had turned on, making Laura turn to see the man on the couch, looking towards her, “I thought you handed in your sidearm.” Jean–Phillipe said to her, “Huh?” Laura asked of her, “Left jacket pocket, hanging low.” JP said to her.

Making Laura sigh, “Well, apparently I’ve got a stalker.” Laura told him, making JP sigh as he moved his hand, revealing he had his own pistol aimed towards her, “Sit.” he ordered of her, hearing that, she walked over to him, “Put it on the table.” JP ordered of her, so she complied, she still had her claws, “I knew.” He said to her, “I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew.” JP told her as she went to sit.

“Is was that day you were supposed to do the hearing,  first time we had sex in months.” JP told her, “What? I missed you.” Laura said, ready to fight, “You were wearing that Clash T–shirt.” JP told her before chuckling, “I was like, ‘What’?” He said to her, “ANd then, wham, you screw me right on the kitchen counter.” JP told her, “Are you complaining, JP? What are you saying?” She asked of him, keeping calm.

“You quit the force, after refusing ever even to think it.” JP told her, “You know what I’ve been through.” Laura told him, “And then the scar on your neck just disappears because of what? Some cream?” He asked, leaning forward, “And now…” He went, tossing photos on the ground, “This little girl, those two.” He said, “I was there when Avs decided to tie her tubes.” JP told Laura.

“So who was this girl?” JP asked of her, “She’s my half–sister.” Laura said, trying to save the lie, “I watched you together. She’s your daughter, isn’t she?” JP asked, making her shake her head, “You’re losing it.” Laura said, “Am I?” He said, “Well, I was looking at some old video today, you were training for that half–marathon. What was the last race you were in?” He asked her, starting the interrogation.