Chapter 19 Not the only one

Michael walked confidently through the dimly lit halls of Weapon X. The trio of mutants John, Jack, and Sarah followed close behind. Their expressions varied as they moved deeper into the facility unsure if they had made the right call.

John and Jack exchanged nervous glances as they trailed behind Michael. They had been under the thumb of Ajax for so long that the appearance of this new, powerful figure filled them with dread. What if this stranger turned out to be worse than Ajax? What if they had just traded one tyrant for another? He already showed himself to be extremely powerful and decisive. It also didn't help that they started off on the wrong foot.

Sarah, on the other hand, felt nothing but cold, hard determination. Her eyes burned with a barely contained fury, a thirst for vengeance against those who had taken her life away and turned her into what she was now. She didn't care who Michael was or what he wanted, as long as she got the chance to make the bastards who made her a freak pay.

As they walked, they passed more and more rooms and drew closer to the security room. Throughout this time the trio also began to have questions. Their previous experiences left them unsure of how to proceed and in the end, they just gave occasional glances.

"Just give me your questions I can tell you all them" Michael had long noticed their glances. He thought they'd ask eventually but it was pretty clear that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

"Are you a mutant like us?" Jack Mead had a unique ability besides his telepathy called radar. Much like the name it allowed him to scout ahead but this wasn't all it could do.

Through this unique sense, Jack was also able to tell mutants from nonmutants, and from what he could tell the intruder was no mutant. Yet neither was he a human which left him further confused.

Jack's compatriots gave confused faces not expecting that to be on his mind. Clearly, the intruder was a mutant, that sort of power is far beyond what humans are capable of.

"No but I'm not human either, Next question" Michael didn't need nor want to get into specifics of his origins with complete strangers.

Jack looked like he wanted to ask more due to his curiosity but John completely cut him off.

"What happens after all this?"

"I think I answered this when we met. You all go free simple as that" He didn't say it in those exact words but it's basically what he meant when he asked if they wanted out of this place.

"Really? No agenda? You're not working for anyone?" He honestly couldn't believe that the intruder had no greed for them. Mutants may be hated by society but that didn't erase the value they had.

Michael didn't immediately reply this time. Honestly, he really wanted them. He may not have put much thought into his plans or goals as of yet but having some reliable subordinates never hurt no one and as things went he knew this world would continue to grow more dangerous. But at the same time, he wasn't willing to blackmail or enslave a bunch of people to do it either. That wouldn't bring him the loyalty he wanted.

"Nope, just me and the scientists I'm saving. Other than that you're all free to do what you want. Go join the X men, Brotherhood, or even follow me if you want it's up to you."

Jack looked down deep in thought. He'd heard of the X-men and the Brotherhood. Some things were good, some bad. Then there was this newcomer… Unsure of what to do he decided to continue watching to make his decision in the end.

"And you? Got any questions" Michael asked Sarah, noticing that she had been the one giving him the least amount of glances and was the quietest so far.

"You said we can break out of here and you're clearly after all these bastards so I have no complaints. If anything, maybe just your name?" Jack and John's eyes opened up a little more when they heard her question. Now that they thought about it they didn't know his name and kept thinking of him as the intruder.

"Michael Beckett or Homelander either one is fine. Now quickly get ready we're going to have company"

Jack didn't know what Michael implied by company. His radar hadn't sensed anything yet. However, one glance at the man was enough to tell he was serious. 'Maybe he has a radar ability Like me' he wondered.

Waiting patiently the group remained on high alert and it wasn't long before Jack's radar pinged on what Michael was talking about.

"There's five of them heading our way" He quickly said so Sarah and John could be prepared for the new arrivals. In response, they gave him a light nod and took on stances ready to use their abilities.

'Wait what's that…' Honing in his radar Jack began examining the group from afar. Two were definitely mutants he could feel it but the other three felt strange and in a way, he had already experienced before. He wasn't sure if Michael was aware of this yet but he decided to share this info just in case.

"Mr Beckett three of the ones coming are like you not human and not mutant"

"Please don't call me that" Being called Mr Becket felt so weird. Only his father was called that and he was nowhere near that old yet to be called as such. "and are you sure?"

"Confident"

Turning in that direction Michael lightly shut his eyes and focused completely on his sense of smell. He didn't really enjoy doing this due to the overload of smells that most of the time weren't nice but he ignored this and pushed on. Soon he began to get a whiff of what he was looking for and what he smelled didn't please him not at all.

'Compound V… they really have it in their systems. Then that means Hydra was able to recreate it or at least a variant.' This was definitely not what he expected to learn today nor was it something he ever wanted to happen. Hydra being able to create Supes like himself was just bad news for everyone. This was a problem that needed to be nipped in the bud and it seemed like he had his first interrogation targets.

"Alright no more games" Michael had no intention of making things last long with these guys and wanted to start off going all out.

Allowing his eyes to glow crimson he shot off a blast that traveled through several corridors until it reached his intended target.

"Holy!" John shouted as he and the rest backed up in surprise at the blast. Clearing through a whole room from down the hall was one thing but this was something else. Michael had just cut through multiple walls of solid metal and concrete like they were nothing. The blast didn't even need a charge time.

"They aren't done yet…" Jack commented, instead of dying or even getting injured the group just charged forward and was moving on their location at a much faster pace.

"Neither are we come on" Taking point Michael allowed his eyes to glow bright red.

Sarah also grew stimulated by the atmosphere and broke off her own ribs with an eager expression. Now in both hands, she had clean sharp bone blades. Jack was still out of his element but this didn't stop him. Carrying a tank on his back he allowed it to open as water began to surround him. The least showy of the group was John but he'd do what he could.

Interfering with the enemy mentally forcing them to make mistakes and if they are mentally weak enough, knock them out.

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.

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In the distance, the group working for Francis and the government had just recovered from the powerful blast. None of them expected it to come and it could have cleanly cut their heads off but one of Francis's mutants interfered by erupting a shield at the last moment.

"Haa haa what is that guy I barely blocked it" Sally complained while her hands stretched but her comment was left ignored as the group began running toward the target with no fear.

"Alright then so we're just charging at the red death beam… Great"

"Don't worry Sally I'll keep you safe"

Hearing a shy yet confident voice she turned and saw a boy that didn't look anything like a human. Instead of skin, he had an exoskeleton much like a bug.

"Thanks, leech"

"No problem now, come on. They said if we did this they'd let us go and we'd be able to go back home!" Hearing Leeches Hopeful tone lightened her mood and soon the two young mutants were off.

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Running through the corridors Michael soon caught sight of his enemies and struck first. Heating up his eyes he released another beam but was surprised to see that it didn't work again and this time he got to see why.

Surrounding the group of mutants and enhanced individuals was an almost transparent field. Using his enhanced vision he was able to see a sort of energy that wasn't just capable of absorbing attacks but could even reflect them much like it did with his last attack.

'That's going to be annoying to deal with but on the upside, it seems like this shield isn't without cost' Michael thought while noticing a girl in the back with a tired expression.

"Let's switch this up" Alloying his eyes to glow Michael proceeded to release his heat vision once more. Except this time it wasn't just one continuous beam but multiple shots constantly being released.

The trio having caught up to him were amazed by his display of control but were no longer surprised. If they learned anything so far then it would be not to underestimate the man next to them.

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"Ahhh I don't know how long I can hold" Sally cried as her arms trembled. She'd never used her abilities this extensively before and never against someone so strong.

"Just hold, we're almost ready" Saying this, Subject 187 stood at the edge of the shield ready to move while the other two Subjects placed strange devices on the floor that aimed straight for Michael.

"The one she calls leech prepare to activate your ability the moment this shield falls"

"I will" Leech replied with some fear but most of all he wanted to be there for Sally. So they could go back with all their friends.

Sally continued to hold for a couple of seconds longer but soon the barrier that was once invisible became seen as a crack appeared. At first, it was only in one spot but it soon spread like a spider web before collapsing. Sally, not being able to hold on, fell on one knee hyperventilating.

Leech wanted to run back and check on her but he soon found himself being dragged by the one in charge.

"Don't forget you need to activate your power fast" Subject 187 ordered in a monotonous tone as he ran side by side with his fellow test subjects.

Leech merely nodded and raised his hand straight for Michael.

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"Coming straight for me now? I wouldn't say that's the best plan" Lifting off the ground slightly Michael blasted off intent on smashing right through them. It might be messy but he wanted things to end fast. However, as he flew toward the group he suddenly felt that something was wrong but his realization came too late when he felt a punch hit him straight in his stomach.

"Agh" Michael grunted in place with shock on his face.

What had just happened? Why did that punch… Hurt?

Unfortunately, he wasn't going to get answers from his fellow test subjects for in the next second he found himself being yanked back.

Struggling in place Michael tried to free himself but he was being held in place by long and durable hair that entangled around his joints.

The other two subjects also didn't let this go and proceeded to beat Michael from all sides.

"Damnit get off me" Releasing another blast Michael aimed straight for the chest of one of his attackers and landed a successful hit that launched them back. Michael didn't intend to repel the enemy at the time he wanted it to cut him straight through. Further proving that something was wrong with his powers.

Twisting around Michael grabbed onto the hair with a tight grip and was going to throw them but soon saw he didn't need to do anything with this opponent.

"Who said you could turn your backs on us!" Attacking from behind Sarah managed to stab the one with hair power before the two began fighting back and forth.

Subject 123 kept trying to repel Sarah but she wasn't having it and it so happened that her bone knives were sharp enough to cut through the annoying hair. Making their match quite one-sided.

Not far away was Jack who had also gotten entangled with one of the test subjects. The one he was dealing with was much easier but his lack of experience caused him to make several mistakes that his enemy lacked. This may have been a problem under different circumstances but Jack wasn't intent on winning but instead wanted to hold his opponent down for as long as possible.

Michael gave a smile seeing the two come to his aid. 'Looks like not killing them was worth it. Maybe Jim was right helping people every now and then can be good' While Michael was thinking this he suddenly heard a voice in his head…

"I know you don't want me in your head and I'm staying as far as I can from your thoughts but I needed to let you know this now. The reason you don't have your powers is because of the one that looks like a bug. I don't know much about him but I've heard that he can dampen powers and sometimes even turn them off."

Looking around Michael soon saw the mutant he was talking about. It looked like he ran to hide after the fight started and subtly used his powers from a distance.

"Why don't you use your abilities on him then?" Michael asked, wondering why a telepath wouldn't just knock someone out.

"I can't, at least not on him. He's weak-minded but not enough for me to knock him out. At most, I can interfere with his powers until you can but please don't kill him. From what I see they were also being tricked like us"

"Alright do it but after this out of my head"

"Deal"

Not long after Michael began to feel his strength return and knew John had followed through. He didn't know how long this would last so he acted fast.

Charging forward he reached the boy that looked like a bug and prepared to give a gentle karate chop. Just enough to knock him out without hurting him but instead hitting the young mutant's neck he suddenly found his handle in contact with a familiar shield.

Turning to the left he saw the same tired girl with a single hand stretched out with determination in her face. From her point of view, Michael was about to kill her friend so she mustered up what she could to interfere but it was clear that after this she was done.

Looking back down at the bug kid Michael proceeded to knock him out as planned.

"Watch out!"

Hearing the voice in his head again upset Michael but not as much as the sound that entered his ears.

SKREEE!

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