Chapter 197: Rescuing Laura

Laura Kinney, also known as Weapon X and X-23, was frustrated, exhausted, and sore.

She had just finished....or rather survived...another grueling eighteen-hour training session filled with deadly and physically exhausting tests.

She had been given barely enough food or rest.

The trainers had been even more brutal than usual.

She had been struck repeatedly with electric batons and shot eight separate times.

Although she had ultimately won before they could incapacitate her, they had still reduced what little food remained in her daily ration by half.

If it were not for her mother constantly reminding her that she had to remain a valuable asset to avoid being labeled a failed experiment, Laura would have stopped trying long ago.

The last thing she wanted was for her mother to be punished... or removed.

Because of that, she excelled in every mission and every test assigned to her, completing each one with ruthless efficiency.

Yet despite proving herself repeatedly, they continued reducing her food under the excuse of maintaining discipline and control.

The only comfort she had left was that she could still spend a little time talking with her mother.

Today, however...

Something felt wrong.

Different.

She could not explain it.

It resembled the instinctive feeling that came just before something significant happened.

Every instinct in her body warned her that danger was approaching.

Trying to ignore the feeling, she lay down to rest before her next training session.

Sleep never came.

Her instincts refused to let her relax.

Restless, she was about to get back up when she heard it.

The facility alarms blared.

Moments later, one of the guards stationed outside her cell began melting the reinforced door.

Laura’s eyes widened.

This had to be the escape her mother had secretly been planning for so long.

She had never truly believed it would happen.

Apparently...

She had greatly underestimated her mother.

A restrained snarl escaped her lips.

The instant the door finally gave way, she lunged at the guard, brought him down, and sprinted into the hallway.

She was escaping.

And she was taking her mother with her.

....

After dropping from the aircraft, Red Hood saw absolute chaos below.

Guards sprinted in every direction.

Helicopters lifted off one after another, carrying scientists and security personnel away from the facility.

"Karen, mark the location of every departing helicopter."

"Once they are safely away from the base, launch the homing missiles."

"I do not want anyone from this facility escaping."

"Onward, Father."

After Karen confirmed, he disappeared into the shadows and advanced toward the base.

Whenever possible, he silently neutralized guards without alerting nearby patrols.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

"Well..."

"There goes stealth."

"Karen."

"Play something appropriate."

She selected something heavy, furious, and relentless... a song perfectly suited for advancing without hesitation.

Drawing both pistols, Red Hood carved his way through the facility without mercy.

The only people he intended to spare were those who had opposed the experiments from the very beginning.

"Scientist."

"Soldier."

"Soldier."

"Staff."

"Scientist."

"Guard."

"Staff."

"Staff..."

His mind categorized every person in less than a heartbeat.

His body reacted just as quickly.

Hearing gunfire nearby, he immediately changed direction.

Taking the stairs downward, he switched from his pistols to his katanas to conserve ammunition.

Everyone who confronted him with hostile intent ended the encounter in far worse condition than when it had begun.

When he reached Subsection Five, he stopped.

The room before him looked like something Cletus Kasady¹ would consider a masterpiece.

A room that had once been completely white had been painted crimson.

One glance told Jason everything.

Someone had finally unleashed every ounce of frustration they had accumulated on everyone unfortunate enough to be nearby.

Checking the bracelet, he saw the yellow marker now accompanied by a rapidly moving red marker.

Another red signal appeared only a short distance away.

He immediately accelerated.

Upon reaching the lower levels, he found Laura sniffing the air, searching for someone.

Or rather...

Someone familiar.

Suddenly, dozens of soldiers surrounded her, raising their weapons.

Jason knew this was his opportunity.

Within seconds, he eliminated the soldiers targeting Laura.

At exactly the same time, Laura butchered the remainder with her claws.

In only moments, the entire squad lay defeated.

Without hesitation, Laura immediately lunged at him, all four claws aimed directly at his head.

She really is Logan’s daughter.

Stepping sideways, Jason avoided both the claws extending from her hands and those protruding from her feet.

Before she could land, he redirected her momentum with a controlled shove, forcing her backward and creating distance between them.

"Kid..."

"Stop fighting."

"I am not here to hurt you...or whatever scenario your training tells you this is."

"I came here to get both you and your mother out."

"She should already be safe with her escort."

"GRAAAAH!"

Jason sighed.

"So much for talking."

He calmly waited for Laura’s next attack before tossing an electric grenade directly at her.

Electricity surged across her body.

She convulsed violently before collapsing.

At that exact moment, the doors burst open.

Logan entered alongside the doctor.

Seeing Laura lying on the floor, both immediately rushed toward her.

"Relax."

"She is fine."

"Just a few muscle spasms."

"It was either this... or letting the situation escalate."

"And the last thing I want is an excuse for my psychotic side to come out and play."

Stepping aside, Jason allowed the doctor to examine Laura.

"Did you find anything useful?" he asked.

"I found the Meta-Human children."

"They are waiting in a safe location."

Jason nodded.

As expected, Laura recovered quickly.

She immediately spotted Jason and prepared to attack again.

Before she could move, however, another pair of claws intercepted her own.

She turned.

Standing before her was Logan.

She frowned.

"Grr."

Laura growled.

"Grr."

Logan answered.

The father and daughter exchanged an entire conversation through nothing but growls.

Jason watched in complete confusion.

"I am going to have to learn whatever language that is."

"I did not understand a single word."

"Good job."

"Grr."

Laura growled at him.

"I literally just said I do not understand it."

"So growling at me accomplishes nothing."

Turning around, Jason began walking toward the exit.

Only to find another squad of guards charging in.

"Attack."

Logan and Laura immediately rushed past him.

Within moments, the guards had ceased to be a problem.

Jason folded his arms.

"This is more entertaining than any team sport."

Escaping the facility took considerably longer than entering it.

They still had to gather the remaining Meta-Human children.

Throughout the journey, Logan, Laura, and Jason eliminated every threat standing between them and the survivors.

Once everyone had boarded the Flying Fox, Jason picked up a nearby tablet and handed it to Laura.

She stared suspiciously at him.

If she had not spent her entire life being molded into a weapon...

She would have looked absolutely adorable.

The screen changed.

A massive red button appeared.

"Press it."

"Grr."

She growled...

Then pressed it.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Everyone aboard watched as the entire facility disappeared beneath a series of enormous explosions.

"I like it," Laura said.

"Press it again."

"There are more fireworks."

Like an unusually dangerous cat presented with an irresistible toy, Laura eagerly pressed the button again.

Several missiles launched from both sides of the Flying Fox.

Moments later, every escaping helicopter erupted into fiery explosions across the night sky.

"I like fireworks."

"Clearly."

"Must be a family trait."

Jason removed his helmet.

Laura studied his face for several seconds.

"Grr."

"We never properly introduced ourselves."

"I am Jason Todd."

"Also known as Red Hood."

"Laura Kinney."

"Nice to meet you."

Karen stepped up beside him.

"Everything is complete," she reported.

"Good."

"Once we return to New York, go on ahead."

"I still have a few matters left to resolve."

Karen nodded before leaving.

Jason turned toward everyone aboard the aircraft.

"Get some rest."

"We still have a long flight ahead of us."

With that, he walked over to where the rescued children were gathered and immediately began providing emergency medical treatment to each of them.