X-23

__**X-23 **__



X-23 (Laura Kinney) was cloned from a damaged copy of Wolverine's genome. She was created to be the perfect killing machine. For years, she proved herself a notable assassin, though a series of tragedies eventually led her to Wolverine and the X-Men.


 * History **

A top-secret program was tasked to replicate the original Weapon X experiment that produced the feral mutant Wolverine. Renowned mutant geneticist Doctor Sarah Kinney was recruited to develop a clone of Wolverine. Since the only genetic sample from Weapon X that remained was damaged, Kinney was unable to salvage the Y chromosome. Kinney proposed the creation of a female genetic twin. After 22 failed attempts at reconstituting the DNA using a duplicate X chromosome, the 23rd sample yielded a viable sample to combine with an embryo. Kinney herself became the surrogate mother of the specimen. Finally X-23 was born.

After seven years, scientists subjected X-23 to radiation poisoning in order to activate her mutant gene. Her claws were extracted, coated with adamantium, and reinserted back into her hands and feet - a procedure performed without any anesthetic. In addition, a “trigger scent” was created that drove X-23 into a murderous rage. X-23 was then trained to be a hired assassin, ordered to kill anyone for a price.

Kinney, long disillusioned over the treatment of her daughter, gave X-23 a final mission: destroy the other Wolverine clones and kill the scientists that turned her into a weapon. X-23 succeeded and joined her mother. The two prepared to flee. However, prior to his death, the head scientist had exposed Kinney to the trigger scent. X-23 went into a murderous frenzy and killed her mother. As she died, Kinney told X-23 that her name is Laura. She also handed her pictures of Charles Xavier, Wolverine, and Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Following a series of challenges, X-23 met her genetic relative Wolverine and joined Xavier’s student body.

X-23 worked alongside the X-Men on several missions. In her senior year she assisted in stopping a group of bank robbers high on MGH alongside Bastienne Noel, Billy Pang, Dane Lightfoot, David Goldberg, Lucius Hayes, and Samantha Carpenter. Shortly after she defended the school against a group that attacked the X-Mansion called the Travelers. X-23 was put into a temporal coma and was freed at the end of her senior year. She then joined X-Factor.

As a member of X-Factor, X-23 helped defeat Selene during the Necrosha event. She later visited Academy X for Samantha's wedding. During the visit she helped fight the Danger Room robots activated by Mystique, but was turned into a vampire by Jubilee. The eXalts then freed her from the disease when Medic activated her dormant healing factor.


 * Powers **

X-23 is a female clone created from Wolverine's genetic material. Consequently, her mutant powers are similar to his. Like Wolverine, X-23's primary mutant ability is an accelerated healing factor that allows her to regenerate damaged or destroyed tissues with far greater speed and efficiency than an ordinary human. Injuries such as gunshot wounds, slashes, and puncture wounds completely heal within a matter of minutes. Her healing factor is developed to such a degree that she can reattach or regrow severed limbs. The effects of her accelerated healing powers extend to her body's immune system, rendering her immune to disease and infection. She is also immune to most drugs and toxins, although she can be affected by certain drugs if given sufficient dosage.

X-23's mutant healing factor heightened her physical senses, strength, stamina, agility, and reflexes to superhuman levels. Like Wolverine, X-23 possesses retractable claws sheathed within her forearms. She releases the claws through the tissue of her knuckles, leaving small wounds which are healed by her healing factor. Unlike Wolverine, however, X-23 has only two claws that emerge from her fists. She possesses a single, retractable claw housed within each foot. Also unlike Wolverine, X-23 escaped before the procedure to fuse her entire skeleton with adamantium could be performed. Since the claws are laced with adamantium, they are virtually unbreakable and are capable of cutting almost any substance.