Leon stared at Jack and, seeing him frozen, took a few deep breaths. Seeing the woman step back and lift her sword, he desperately wanted to cry out for Jack to move, but couldn't because of the pain he felt, making the words get trapped in his throat. Freya swung, trying to behead Jack in one clean move, but was shocked to see him lift both hands up. The blade got trapped in the bone. Pulling it out, his arms fell to his side, but he didn't move again.
"He really is an animal. Is it purely instinct?" Pushing the sword into his sotmach she watched as Jack didn't react and frowned. Once again, she lifted the sword, this time aiming to slash down through his skull. Once again, Jack's body moved at the crucial moment, lifting his hands, he stopped the blade, letting it get trapped in his arms. "This is harder than I thought."
Telling herself. She stepped back and analysed where to go, forgetting about Leon's existence. Leon could tell soemthing was wrong. Looking in his bag, he tried to be as quiet as possible and looked at what Jack had brought with him. Seeing nothing he could use, he looked around the room and saw a forklift. Spreading both hands, he focused everything he could and forcefully undid the break. His body shook, feeling like it would tear apart. His wound bled profusely, but he didn't care, knowing he still had time before it became a serious problem.
He knew he couldn't win in a fight against Freya; Jack had already lost. All he could do was escape. Dragging the forklift towards him, it quickly picked up speed as blood fell from his nose. Freya noticed, but by the time she did, it had already slammed into Jack. Controlling the axe, he slammed it into Jack's body to push him into its fork and controlled the vehicle to come his way.
Freya teleported, coming behind Leon and lifting her sword. Lifting the weapons in the bag, he placed it behind him to block the strike and rolled to the side. Freya teleported to avoid the forklift, coming next to Leon once more.
'Come on. There must be more I can do.' Pushing his body to the limit, he removed all his focus from the forklift, letting it roll naturally, and lifted his hands towards Freya. Freya swung her sword down, trying to cut Leon's neck off. Focusing all his aura on his hands, he expelled it in one go. A sound like a high-powered laser spread from his hands as a wave spread from his hands, throwing Freya backwards, her sword cutting off one of his hands.
"AHHHH!" Leon screamed in pain, not even noticing that he had done soemthing completely new with his power. Looking down at the wound, he watched as Freya coughed up blood after slamming into the wall, her sword returning into its ring form. Leon breathed deeply but knew he had to move or else he would die. He had pushed his power to the limit; one more attack, and he would be completely helpless. Limping over to Jack, he held his stomach with the stub that had been made and grabbed Jack, wrapping his arm around his shoulder and holding his waist.
Dragging Jack along, he nearly tripped over himself many times, struggling to even move. Only the desire to live allowed him to continue, and making his way through the halls they had been in previously, he stepped outside and saw the mustang. Throwing him into the passenger seat, he hopped in and started the engine, speeding off towards Xavier's penthouse, not knowing where else to go.
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"Sir!" Xavier and James looked to the man who rushed in, followed by a smell of blood. On two stretchers, Jack and Leon followed, basic medical work being done to them. Leon's face had gone pale, looking almost like a corpse. James quickly got up and went to their side.
Gulping, he turned to Xavier, who only watched. "Fuck." Thinking to himself, he remebered Geroge's ability and slowly ran it, holding it over Leon's body. Focusing on his sotmach wound, he ran the power to the extreme, being washed over with a wave of exhaustion. The wound slowly repaired itself, but James could tell it wasn't enough. "He needs blood. I can't make it." Fixing the wound on his stomach, James pushed aside the fatigue and focused on the hand.
He knew George's abilities limits. If he had the hand, maybe he could put it back, but to repair an entire hand out of nothing wouldn't see him pass out; it could put him in a coma for a while. Holding the stub, James did the next best thing. Closing the blood vessels and turning him into an amputee permanently. Although it wasn't a hand, it at least gave Leon a chance to live.
Xavier came over to Leon's side and rested his hand on his head. His eyes began to bleed as he used his own power, trying to see a moment when Leon had to go to the hospital. With how he lived, it was a certainty that he had at least needed blood at least once. After a second, he nodded to the man who brought them.
"AB positive." Catching James, who collapsed where he stood, he sighed and looked at the new mess that had been made.
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Freya rose, greedily breathing. The ring on her thumb glowed, washing her over with a green light, repairing the damage, soothing the pain. Getting up, she grabbed her head and clicked her teeth, not seeing Jack or Leon, only a trail of blood. Calling Lucas, she spoke, "I put him under my ability, but they got away."
Not bothering to hear a reply, she looked at the mess around and heard distant sirens. Teleporting away, she barely missed the arrival of the police.
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James awoke and sat up, seeing Xavier at the end of his bed. "Morning." Xavier politely said, handing him a small glass of water and an apple. "You were asleep for two days. A bit shorter than after Unit 13 but still a little while."
"How are they?" James asked, taking a bite of the apple.
"Leon is awake, but the chicken. He's still asleep. I looked at his memories, and what happened wasn't something physical, but psychological. That woman you saw in the Church of the Martyrd struck. They are quite lucky to be alive."
"Take me to him." Xavier nodded and led James to Jack. Seeing him lie in bed, Leon rose with a cold glare, not trusting anyone to get close. James paid no attention and activated his eyes. Frowning, he shook his head.
"Her power isn't inside of him anymore. Instead." James clicked his tongue. "He should have woken up."
"So he's useless now." Xavier sighed. James thought for a moment and took a deep breath.
"You said it was psycological right?" Asking Xavier nodded.
"From the looks of it. Though I can't be sure. Whatever she did with her power, I didn't see, only the moment she touched him." James smiled and took out his phone, calling Skylar.
"I need your help." Looking back at Jack, he frowned. "I have a man here who was struck with a power in your domain. Whilst the ability is no longer in effect, he hasn't woken up." James waited as she spoke and smiled, "I'll send you the address. See you soon." Hanging up, James looked to Leon. "I have someone coming. She works with the ISD. Her ability lets someone enter a persosn mind. Whilst it could work, it means we will see everything Jack keeps to himself. He can't answer for himself, so I will ask you. Are you willing to let us enter?"
Leon looked at Jack with a worried look and frowned. Touching his leg, he firmly grabbed it, "Maybe he shouldn't wake up." Looking at his friend's face, he saw a peaceful smile on it, one he hadn't seen before when he was first attacked.
"He isn't alive like this, Leon."
"He hardly lives anyway." Leon sadly said. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head, "Do what you got to do. I'm being selfish on his behalf. It's his choice if he wants to wake up." James smile dan dmoved to eat a full meal with Xavier. Five hours passed, and the elevator opened. Skylar walked in with a happy smile and saw James giving him a hesitant but friendly wave.
"Is he here?" James nodded in reply and led Skylar to Jack. Looking at him, she frowned but siad nothing, sitting next to him. Grabbing his hand, she could tell he was still alive, feeling his pulse.
"Who is he?"
"You heard of Chicken Head." Skylar's gaze lowered, unable to believe the young man lying there was that person, his baby-faced appearance not matching the atrocities he had committed.
"Okay." She turned to Leon, able to understand he was the one with real say over what should happen with Jack. "Will you allow me to operate? You can come with if you wish." Leon looked at her in confusion, wondering what she meant, but nodded. Smiling Skylar made James sit comfortably and have the three rest their hands atop one another.
Placing her hand on top of all there, she dragged them into Jack's mind.
