THEY REMEMBER

Blood
He could smell it in the air
He could feel it seeping into his gloves, making his fingers wet with it
He could taste the coppery tang of it, He swallowed hard pushing the taste down his throat.
Logan stood in the center of the garden of shredded bodies he had just made. He had killed six men in an instant. He had let his claws drink their fill of life and feasted on flesh. Dark crimson lined his claws with splotches of black covered the usual silver metal. Through it all Logan could still see it, He could still smell it, He could still see the dried pink on the edges of the claws on his right hand.
Blood
Her Blood
Logan ran through the brush as fast as his legs would carry him. He could still smell it, her blood, It was flowing from his own heart. In his mind he could see those eyes. Those gods damn wonderful blue eyes. No matter where he would run those eyes would always find him.
A sound
The smell of gun oil and lit tobacco
More guards
Logan sunk lower into the shadows. He could see them from here. Hydra guards walking down a man made path just in front of him. Logan moved silently out of the brush
The guards had been talking and joking, not taking any notice that Death itself was standing behind them
Logan sheared the first one from hip to color bone. He fell to the ground in a heap only getting a glace at what used to be his body
The other guard barely had time to raise his weapon as his arm was taken off at the shoulder. A fist slammed into the guard’s throat before he could cry out. He fell to the in a rain of blood and cries.
Logan watched the man convulse on the ground for a moment before stepping toward him.
“P..P…Please don’t� he said, trying to raise his voice higher than the rasp that was escaping it, “I have a family�
“So did I� Logan buried his claws into the guards chest and watched his eyes go dark. Logan stood with his eyes still on the dead guard. As the last hint of life fled from the guards body. He saw those eyes again. Logan fell to his knees, clutching his head and slamming his eyes shut
-God dammit no stop it!!-
Those eyes full of love
-Get the Fuck out of my head!!-
Those eyes full of understanding
-Please, I’m sorry Don’t-
Those eyes full of forgiveness
“GOD DAMMIT STOP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!�
Logan clutched at his head trying to bury it all away. The smell of the blood, the feel of her hair, That look in her eyes. It was the last thing in the world he wanted. Her forgiveness.
He glanced up at the sky and hoarsely whispered “Ro……�
In a Maelstrom of pain and memory it all came flooding back to him

The Xavier Institute
Flashback

Blood
It was everywhere
He could smell the thickness of it
And he loved every drop
Logan carved his way free of the ruined Blackbird and took in his surroundings,
The mansion was ablaze. He had missed his intended target of the teacher’s wing, and crashed into the rear of the estate.
Smoke was heavy in the air but through it Logan picked up forms running through the hallways. Students from what Logan could tell, He had not caught the scents of his targets.

Still, he thought, better not pass up a chance to take a possible threat out of the picture

With that Logan began his hunt
Using his Adamantium enhanced weight, he barreled through a ruined wall.
Coming to rest in front of a small huddle of students that had been heading for the front door. Logan took them in with cold eyes.
The oldest was probably no more than sixteen, a girl with bright pink hair and softly glowing yellow eyes. She glanced up at the figure as she pulled the younger ones behind her “Mr. Logan?�

Wolverine sneered at them coldly and slowly extended his claws.




Mansion Basement

Beast bounded down the hallway, from wall to wall the agile mutant hurled himself toward the elevator door.
NightCrawler and Iceman following him in tow
The controls on the elevator did not respond to Beast’s commands, with all of his considerable might he tired to pry the doors open
“Dammit� He said as he tried again “they are on lockdown�
Nightcrawler came to his side and together they both pulled with everything they could but to no avail.
“What about the emergency one in the hanger� Iceman said as a smooth sheen of ice started to cover his body
Hank shook his head ‘Logan sealed the hanger after he took the Blackbird�
“I cannot port us out either� Kurt said angrily “Ve cant just sit here�
Beast thought a moment “ Got it, there is a ladder hatch that leads to the front of the mansion, down level B�
Bobby and Kurt shook their heads in agreement and the three quickly made their way down the corridor
-Mein Gott Logan- Kurt thought as he ran –Vhat has happened to you mein friend-
Coming around the corner, Kurt was met headfirst with both Ororo and Bettsy
The three fell to the ground in a mass
“Bloody hell Kurt� Bettsy said rubbing her head � I thought you were the graceful one�
“Forgive me� he said helping them both to their feet “ I am not thinking clearly�
Bettsy grinned at him “No worries love, right now none of us are�
“Ororo, are you alright Freulain?� Kurt asked
Strom slowly looked into his eyes “Of all the things I am right now Kurt alright is not one of them�
Kurt bowed his head to her “I am sorry Ororo, a stupid thing to ask�
Storm placed a hand on his shoulder, the hand with a gold band around the ring finger “Nothing stupid at all my friend, I am just worried for my husband’s life�
Hank and Bobby had arrived a moment before and both bowed their head at the mention of Logan
“So it is him then’ Bobby said
Bettsy slowly nodded “Emma felt him as he arrived on the grounds, Scott, Peter, and Bishop tried to box him when he entered the mansion but lost him, they tracked him to the hanger and then all of this happened.�
“Any word from any of them?� Beast asked
Bettsy shook her head again “ Last thing Emma told me was that her and Kitty were trying to shepard the children out to the front grounds.�
“Is the elevator functional?� Storm asked, the others could tell that she could wait here no longer
“Nope� Bobby said shaking his head “ But Hank knows another way out that’s where we were heading before we ran into you guys� He smiled
Bettsy punched him in the arm “Stow it ice pop�
“Let’s go� Storm said and let Beast lead the way
-I’m coming Logan-

Mansion Ground level

Wolverine stalked the halls slowly, trying to pick up on the faintest scent or the lightest footfall. Other than the sound of the fire and the scent of smoke the mansion was quiet and empty. He was surprised, he thought he would have encountered a bit more resistance than this. Wolverine smiled to himself, Don’t want this to be to easy.
As he snuck down the hall, he felt something tingle in the back of his head.
“What?�
Again that feeling, stronger this time, Wolverine stopped and leaned against the wall and listened. It came at him, full force, a voice, one that he knew
-God Damn you stop it-
Wolverine shook away the voice pounding in his head.
-Mother fucker do you know what you have done DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE-
Wolverine screamed and started pounding his head against the wall.
The impact on the furnished stone with metal made a horrid thud
“Get out of my head� he screamed again
-We are nobody’s tool, We are nobody’s weapon, We are a man damn you, We are our own man-
Wolverine screamed once more this time with all the pain and confusion that was gripping his very being. For one moment Logan was free. He came out of the darkness that Hydra had cast him to
Logan glanced down at his blood stained hands in horror
“Oh God, The kids, oh Christ Cyke, Petey, what the fuck have I done� Logan slid back down the wall, his forehead bleeding form where it had been hit on the wall, his face in his hands. “Ro…..Oh please no please�
Logan stood and went to find his wife. As he took his first step he felt a tingle in his head much like his other personality did
-Wrong Wolverine the mission is not over-
“Fuck you� he said grinding his teeth together, placing his hands over his ears to try and shut out the voice
-Your ours Wolverine, just accept it-
“Who the hell are you and why are you making me do this� He grounded out
-we are your masters Wolverine, and you are our little hell hound-
“I am a man’
-You are nothing more than what we make you-
“I’m gonna watch you bleed for this� Logan said as he fell to his knees
-Enough with the banter Wolverine you have a job to do-
Logan felt as if the inside of his head was exploding, all his feelings were being drained away replaced only with cold determination. One thought lingered before it was snatched away from his mental hand,Long white hair and two brilliant blue eyes.
The voice of Logan died out in The Wolverine’ s head. He smiled as he could still faintly hear the screams and curses
-Time to Fetch-
Wolverine raised his eyes and grinned

Blood Freezes

Storm was the last one out of the hatch. Kurt helped her to her feet and the looked on in horror at the fire that was quickly devouring the mansion

“My stars and garters’ Hank said as he rested his hand over his open mouth
Kurt looked on in disbelief. The entire rear was in flames and the smoke blotted out the star filled sky.
Storm went right to work “ Hank, you, Bettsy, help the students, Bobby, Kurt , find the others and have them meet us all in the front�
“What about you� Bettsy asked
Ororo smiled a bit “ I’m going to cool things off a bit, Go and be safe.�
Bettsy and Hank took off for the clusters of children that had already grouped in the front. Kurt and Bobby took to the far side of the school to enter from the side enterance

Ororo took to the air, summoning a huge vortex of wind and rain, she poured it down upon the flames. In all of her power and all of her majesty, Ororo had never felt so helpless in her life. Logan was here, somewhere, and he had blood on his mind.
He had been gone for months, something about a favor he owed to Nick Fury. He had wrote for the first couple of weeks, never missing a beat, making apology after apology for being gone and taking so long. They had talked on the phone once. If someone would have told her a few years ago that the Wolverine would be groveling for a woman to forgive him, she would have laughed
“Well you know it is a pleasure to be able to grovel at your feet darling� he had said “ Just means I can work my way up “
She had laughed then, it had been the last time for a long while. After that phone call no more letters, no more calls, nothing.
Still Ororo knew that Logan was the type to drop off the face of the earth one second and show up on the front doorstep with a pocket full of pesos, a six pack and a devil may care grin on his face the next
Then this had happened when Emma had sent the message that he had come home, Ororo was overjoyed.
Until the love of her life crashed the Blackbird into the school and was fully intent on killing them all
As the flames died down form the squall that had been set upon them, Ororo laughed and sobbed at the same time as she could almost hear Logan’s voice say,� Damnit if this superhero shit can’t suck sometimes�

Mansion Foyer

Logan had enough of creeping through the dark hallways. The monster was hungry and he wanted to be fed. A sudden whiff of pungent perfume filled his nostrils, and he grinned devilishly.

“Found my first rabbit�

Emma Frost was having a really bad day. Scott had a early danger room session with the students so their normal morning romp was cancelled. Then her afternoon away to the spa had to be called off for a meeting with a possible new student who was terribly boring. Just as she sat down for the evening with a glass of wine and book that little psycho pops into her head with visions of all their heads on pikes.

Now here she is searching down halls with Kitty Pryde of all people looking for anyone else who would not have sense enough to escape a burning building. Things possibly cant get much worse.

“Hey Em�

Son of a bitch

Emma turned slowly to see the shadowed figure of wolverine standing but a few feet from her. On reflex, she started trying to probe his mind to find the shut off switch and put the animal down

Wolverine laughed as he felt that all to well know sensation creep up into his brain “ I wouldn’t try it darling� He said pointing to his head “ You might fry a few brain cells of your own tryin to weasel your way in there�

Emma smirked at him “Well Logan I can always say in all honestly that I have plenty to spare unlike some more basic people that I know�

Wolverine grinned. This was gonna be so much fun “ you wouldn’t be able to get in there anyway Em, The ole brain box is wired pretty tight right now. I should have been more careful about projecting so much, that was how ya caught me wasn’t it�

Emma was already sending out telepathic messages that she had found wolverine and for them to get their asses there now “ For all of your so called skills Logan, being subtle was never a strong suit of yours�

Wolverine chuckled “Don’t I know it� the claws on his hands softly came out “ I’m gonna kill ya now Em, I wish I could say it was nothing personal but you always were a bitch�

She barely had time to shift to her diamond form as the razor sharp blades passed over her head

“You think your little butter knives are going to hurt me Logan� she said

“Only one way to find out Darlin.� He said as he took another swing at her,�But my instincts tell me if you were so confident in that fancy little skin of yours you wouldn’t be trying so hard to avoid getting hit�
Emma admitted to herself she was not sure if she could take a blow form the claws
-If he were to find the flaw in my form he would shatter me to a million shards-
If she could keep moving, then she would not have to find out. Simple as that
But dammit he is quick
Logan pressed his attack harder, he knew all it would take if for her to leave herself open for just a moment then it would all be over.
There
Logan sweeped his leg out and caught Emma by the ankle. She fell to the ground with a hard crack, bouncing her head off of the floor
The blow had made her lose her concentration, like Peter if she were to be knocked out she would revert to her flesh and blood form
Through groggy eyes she stared up at her murderer
“Keep my spot in Hell warm for me Em� he said as he raised his claws
Emma closed her waiting to feel the sharp metal plunge through her heart
Whack
Logan fell off to the side form the blow to the head that Kitty Pryde had made with a small statue on one of the hallway stands
“Cannot belive I just hit Logan over the head to save Emma Frost� she said. Shaking her head
“I had it perfectly under control little kitty, I certainly did not need your help� Emma said as she stood up rubbing the back of her head
“Yea, Yea whatever now get your silicone ass down stairs and bring the calvary� Kitty said as she walked over to the recovering wolverine
“Not that I care mind you but what about you?� Emma asked
Kitty looked over at her mentor “ Wolvie and I need to have a little talk�
With that Emma was gone and teacher and student stood facing each other
“Heya Logan� She said as she took a defensive stance that he himself had taught her
Logan grinned, a grin that was almost like the one the Logan she knew would use
“Hey Pum’ kin�
Snikt

Blood Flows

Pain.

That was all that Scott could feel throughout his body: The throbbing of his jaw, the thunder in his head, and the cold burn in his gut. However, even though it was agony, it meant he was still alive.

Logan had really done a number on him.

He and Peter were the ones to close him in the hangar while Bishop went to lock it down. The eyes fixed upon them as they entered the hangar made their blood freeze. The Logan they knew was not in those eyes. A warped and twisted presence now resided in the body of their friend and teammate.

Peter had tried talking to him, had tried reaching into the depths of what soul remained of the man before them. He had barely begun when Logan buried his claws in the organic metal of Peter’s chest.

Stunned and shocked more from the merciless action of his friend than the pain, Colossus crumpled to the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Logan smiled down at him. “Well, that answers that question; always wondered if these would cut through your hide.�

An optic beam took Logan off his feet and smashed him into the far wall. Scott ran to Peter’s side and checked the young man’s pulse, weak but there. He hit the communicator on his belt and tried calling for Beast.

A hard roundhouse kick stopped him mid-speech. Logan followed up the kick with a hard punch to Scott’s jaw, and a warm feeling of exhilaration swept through him when he heard the audible crunch of teeth breaking.

Logan straddled Scott’s chest and pinned his arms down with his knees. He used his left hand to hold Scott around the throat and keep the deadly gaze of the man’s eyes averted.

Slowly Logan ran a claw across Scott’s cheek, drawing a line of blood. “Hey Cyke, how ya been?�

Scott struggled as much as he could, but Logan’s reinforced body held him down firmly. He gasped for air as the hand around his throat tightened. “Logan, what the hell are you doing?�

Logan offered him a sneer. “Something I’ve wanted to do since the first day I had to listen to your bullshit, One-Eye, I’m gonna kill ya, real slow-like too, cut ya in places that will make ya suffer good and long before that cold darkness swallows ya. Then, I’m gonna find that bitch of yours and show her a real nasty time ‘fore I do the same to her.�

Cyclops fumed with anger. “You’re a real bastard, Logan.�

Wolverine nodded. “And then some.�

The hot burning of metal slid into Scott’s belly as Logan slowly let his claws enter his flesh; he would twist and turn a bit, making Scott draw in a painful gasp.

Grabbing Scott by the hair, Logan repeatedly slammed his head onto the hangar floor. After a good dozen or so blows, Scott did not move. Logan stood over him and laughed. “Tell Jeannie hi for me, Summers.�

Bishop entered the hangar just then and started blasting away at Logan, preventing the strike that would separate Cyclops’ head from his body. He dodged every blast that barreled toward him, and made his move for the Blackbird.

Logan sealed the hatch and sat in the pilot seat. The loud hum of engines echoed in the hangar as Bishop ran to Scott’s side. The hangar door opened and with a roar, the jet shot out into the night sky.

Bishop knelt by Scott’s side and checked for a pulse. He found one and tried stirring him awake. Peter still lay in a mass a bit away, his armored form gone and a pool of blood forming beneath him.

Using a vial of salts, Scott came to in a daze, the blurry image of Bishop before him. He coughed and spit up a jet of blood and tried to rise.

“Hold it, Summers, take it easy.�

Cyclops brushed away the larger man’s hand and attempted to rise to his feet. His head thrummed with pain and his hands were wet with the blood that was coming from his abdomen.

“You’re gonna need Hank, Summers, you and Rasputin both.� Bishop wrapped an arm around his shoulders and carefully hauled him to his feet.

Scott choked back the foul taste in his mouth and spat, more blood and several teeth came from his mouth. “Peter?�

Bishop shook his head. “Don’t know, you both are bad off, gotta get ya some attention.�

Scott shook his head in a violent no. “I’m fine. Get Peter out.�

“Bullshit, Summers, you need help, too!�

Scott shouldered Bishop off of himself. “Get Peter out, let the others know. There is something I have to do.�

“Logan must have knocked your brain out with all of that; you know how bad a gut wound can be?�

Scott tried standing tall, but the pain made him double over a bit. “Yeah, and I know how bad a chest wound can be, too. Now get Peter out of here.�

Realizing there was no way to make the man change his mind, Bishop went to get Peter. “Hope you know what you’re doing.�

Grunting away the pain, Scott nodded. “Seal up the hangar when you get Pete out and find the others.�

“And you?�

A shadow fell over the face of Cyclops. “I have a promise to keep, and I need the tool to do it.�

Mansion Foyer:

They had stood still for a few moments, neither moving, neither breathing, teacher and pupil locked in a cold stare.

Kitty let her muscles relax, and finally took a deep breath. Logan was smiling at her, his teeth catching the moonlight from the far windows. He flexed his shoulders once and cracked his neck.

“Think you’re ready for this, girl?� he asked, his face still holding that cruel grin.

Kitty kept her breathing steady. “Are you?�

“Ya stink of fear, Pumpkin, no use in tryin’ to deny it.�

“I’m not afraid of you, Logan, I’m afraid of what has happened to you.�

He took a slow and menacing step forward. “Nothing has happened to me that I didn’t want, Darlin’, I just woke up.�

Kitty had the katana that Logan had given her strapped to her back, though she made no move for it yet, hoping that it would not come to such measures. “You want to be someone’s tool again, Logan? To be like Creed?�

The cold visage did not falter. “This is what I was made to do, Kitty, I’m a killer, born and bred. Ain’t gonna fool myself anymore with any ideals of me being anything more.�

“You don’t believe that, Logan; you never believed that.�

“Just been lying to myself all these years, Darlin, didn’t wanna face up to it.�

A flash of metal startled her, and Kitty had to jump back to avoid the swipe of Logan’s claws. “I’m a new man Kitty, and I really like it, too.�

Faking with another swipe, Logan kicked out and caught kitty in the chest with his booted foot. She flew back with the force but quickly recovered. The pain ebbed quickly, and she knew that Logan was playing with her. She reached behind her and pulled the katana free.

Wolverine grinned at her in anticipation. “That’s it, Darlin,’ only way to beat a devil is to be one yourself.�

Kitty held the sword in front of her, she held it in the battojutsu method that she had been shown long ago in Japan when an old master by the name of Ogun had tried to take her very soul from her. “Remember Ogun, Wolvie? Do you remember what you said to me when we were in Japan, and the only thing I wanted to do was run and let the Professor make it all just go away? You told me to if I didn’t fight what was inside of me, then it would always be there. Live or Die, Logan, Fight or Surrender.�

Logan laughed softly. “Yeah, I remember, a different lifetime ago, Kit, and I’m a different man now.�

The claws came at her again, this time she phased and let them pass through. A hard feeling of dizziness and strain hit her for a moment, the density of adamantium was very hard to phase through she would not be able to do it many more times. “You told me that if I was not going to fight, Logan, than it was better to have a clean death than to live in fear as a slave.�

“I said a lot of stupid shit back then.� Logan drove forward, aiming the points of his claws at her chest. Kitty sidestepped and drove her elbow into the back of his head.

“You would have done it for me, Logan, I owe you that and worlds more.� She swung the katana and caught him with a grazing cut along his side.

Logan ran his finger down the already closing cut but managed to catch a small drop of blood on his fingertip. He looked at it, then back to Kitty and bellowed a laugh while licking his finger clean. “That’s what I wanted, Darlin’, show me I what I taught ya.�

They met in a flurry of blows, Kitty’s speed and nimbleness just barely keeping her ahead of him. She arched her foot and flipped back, catching him under the chin.

He stumbled back a bit and looked at her with surprise. “That’s a new one.�

Kitty grinned. “Playing Street fighter with Bobby.�

Wolverine leapt for her, burying a knee in her mid-section and hurling her to the ground. The sword flew from her grip and skidded a few steps away from her. The breath was trying to return to her body as she crawled toward it.

Logan hovered over her shadowing her as she continued her way to her fallen weapon. He raked his claws against each other making a terrible sound, with each step he took his grin widened as his claws continued their symphony of metal against metal

She was so close now

He planted a foot against the small of her back and held her down finally. The sound of his claws was making her skin crawl and her ears hurt. She turned around and looked up at him as best as she could.

His eyes were not those of the Logan she knew.

He drew back and drove his claws downward…

Into empty floor.

Logan cursed as he looked around for her. Her sword was gone, too. The little bitch was being more trouble than he had wanted. Somewhere deep in his mind, for some unknown reason, he felt the warmth of pride.

Slowly Kitty phased back up through the floor right behind him. She moved as silently as she could and took her one chance to strike. She swung and caught him along the Achilles tendon of both legs.

Logan roared as he fell to the hard floor, his legs no longer able to support him. Kitty pressed her chance by taking precision cuts along his tricep tendons, rendering his arms useless for the time she would need.

Logan flipped over onto his back and saw the point of a sword aimed at his throat. He could not help but laugh again. “Looks like you got me, Darlin!�

He could feel the tingle of his healing factor already starting the repairs to his body; he would have to buy his time.

“Only one thing to do, Pumpkin.� He arched his neck back, exposing his throat. “Right here, Kit, a good solid strike will cut me all the way to the spine; probably won’t kill me, but I’ll lose enough blood for you to be able to finish the job.�

The damage to his legs was almost done.

Kitty held the blade still, but her breathing was haggard. Sweat beaded on her brow and ran down to burn at her eyes. She knew the choice she had to make, but could she?

Logan sensed the conflict in her. Good, just a bit longer.

“You don’t have a choice, Katherine, if you don’t do it now, take your chance to kill me, I will gut you and everyone else here without so much as a blink of an eye.�

She eased the point forward and pressed it against his throat.

“That’s it Darlin, now do it, come on! Show me I taught ya good, show me that ya have it in ya, I know ya do, you always did. Ya ain’t like the others, Darlin,’ you can kill, ya have the stones for it. COME ON, let me go free, set me loose, Kitty. Send me on to Hell.�

She pressed a bit further, the sweat mixing with the tears on her face.

“If you don’t, Kitty, I swear I’ll kill everything in this world that you ever cared about, and I will, Darlin,’ you know ole Logan; he keeps his promises.�

One good push and slash.

That was all that it was going to take.

Kitty never felt such a heavy weight as the sword in her hands.

“Come on, Kitty, show me that I was a good teacher.�

She pulled the blade away from his throat and held it aloft. “You were a good teacher.�

She hurled the sword to the ground. “At least the Logan I know was. Whoever you are, I am not gonna let you destroy that part of him. He would never want that of me, and I will not let you have it.�

Wolverine sneered at her. “Should have taken your chance, sweets, cause now-�

He kicked out his healed leg and swept her feet out from under her. “I’m gonna see how many different pitches I can make ya scream in.�

Kitty fell and hit her head against the floor, stunning her just long enough for Logan to crawl atop her with claws under her throat. ‘You failed me, Kitty; I thought ya had more steel in ya than that.�

“LOGAN!!�

Wolverine turned to see the rest of his former teammates standing at the front door. Bishop, as well as Kurt, Emma, Betsy, Bobby, Sam, Warren and Ororo.

He gazed at them, staring them all in the eyes before his came to rest on Storm.

Picking Kitty up and gripping her tightly around the throat, he placed his claws against her temple. “Hi guys, crazy night, huh?�

Storm kept the emotions raging within her under control as well as she could. “Let her go, Logan, stop this madness!�

“I like the madness, Darlin,’ real liberating; ya know, I always did like running free.�

Bishop had an energy rifle pointed directly at him. Bobby and Emma both shined from the light reflecting off of their shelled bodies. Sam kept his eyes on Logan, but fidgeted with worry. Warren’s wings fluttered and rustled in anxiety, while Betsy and Ororo stood perfectly calm.

“You must stop this, Logan, please, whatever has happened to you, we will make it right, just come back to us…to me.� Ororo kept her voice firm and strong, but there was an undertone that was begging her husband to stop.

“Sorry Darlin, I like how I am just fine� He squeezed his hands a bit tighter around Kitty’s throat, making her gasp for air.

“I am taking the shot,� Bishop said.

“No,� Storm, answered back. “Not yet.�

“He is going to kill her,� Bobby said.

“No, he is not,� Ororo confirmed. “He will not hurt her.�

“Who the hell do you think we are talking about here?� Emma piped up. “He has finally lost it, and the only answer is to put him down!�

“Shut your mouth, Emma.� The look Storm gave her made even Emma Frost’s glacier-like demeanor falter.

She turned back to her husband and the girl she loved like a daughter. “Logan, you must let her go; if not, we will do what we must.�

Logan snorted. “Come on, then, come get me, see how fast this bitch falls when you take your first step.�

“Please, Logan, as your wife, I am begging you!�

Logan gave her a hard and cold look. Still holding Kitty strong, he reached down to his left hand and pulled the band that he was unaware that he was still wearing until now, off.

And he cast it to the ground in front of her.

“Just a lie, Darlin’,� he said in a steady voice. “Just a lie that the both of us were living. This is the real me, that shell that said he loved you was just a fantasy. The dream is over, Ororo; the nightmare’s all that remains.�

Storm did not know how to react at first. She was at a loss for any kind of words or emotions.

Then the anger hit.

Summoning up the winds, and letting the heavens echo her anger, she walked toward them.

In the back of Logan’s mind, he could hear a roar of triumph for the woman that stood before him. Shaking the sound of laughter coming from deep within his mind away, Wolverine pressed his claws against Kitty’s head. “I’m telling ya now, Storm, don’t push me.�

The white of her eyes shone out like a blossoming star. “You have pushed me once already, Wolverine, it is only fair that I return the favor.�

“Bout damn time,� Kitty said, and she phased out of Logan’s arms as a gale force gust of wind sent him hurling through the wall of the mansion and out into the surrounding woods of the estate.

Faces were still as Storm let the power of the winds ebb and she returned to the ground.

Bishop slung the rifle over his shoulder. “That works, too.�

Ororo went to Kitty and looked her over. “Are you hurt, child?�

Looking up at Ororo, Kitty managed a false smile. “Just dandy, considering Logan almost killed me.�

Ororo’s sad expression deepened. “Don’t worry, Kitty, we will bring him back.�

“I don’t know, Storm, I’m not so sure this time.� The tears shone again in her eyes. “I think he’s really gone this time.�

Ororo shook her head firmly. “The moment we admit that is when he’s gone for sure; as long as we keep trying, there is hope.�

Kitty nodded halfheartedly and pressed her head into Ororo’s shoulder.

“Well, I truly hate to interrupt this Oprah moment, but should we not be trying to subdue a certain lunatic who wants all of our heads?� Emma asked in her usual tone.

Ororo nodded. “Kitty, Hank is outside checking on Peter; go see if he needs help.�

Kitty went wide-eyed with fear. “What happened to Peter? Is he hurt? How bad?�

Storm calmed her as best as she could. “Hank is seeing to him now, but if you do not calm yourself, Kitten, than you must leave them be.�

Kitty, still worried beyond measure, nodded as calmly as she could and ran out the mansion doors to the makeshift area Hank had made for the injured students.

Ororo turned to face the rest of the team that were there. “Any ideas?�

Bishop shrugged. “He’s in the woods now; he will be going to guerilla tactics. That was always Logan’s bread and butter, he knows we will come after him, and he knows that if he stays in the woods, he will be able to pick us off one by one.�

“Great, we got Rambo to deal with now,� Bobby muttered.

“In this case, I think I would prefer Rambo instead of Mr. Logan,� Sam added. Kurt shushed them both.

Ororo looked at Betsy and Emma. “Are you two picking up anything?�

“Other than the madding desire for blood and booze that the little psycho usually projects, it is impossible to probe any deeper,� Emma said.

Betsy tried for a moment and then shook her head. “Nothing.�

“Colossus is down, Scott is MIA, and telepathy is not an option, we’re running out of big guns here, people,� Warren said.

“I have one.�

Scott stumbled down the steps with something clutched under his arm.

“Scott!�

Emma rushed to his side and eased him to the ground. “Stupid man, I should kill you and Bishop alike!�

Cyclops winced as he reached the ground. “Where is he?�

“Storm went all cyclone on him and sent him through a wall,� Bobby answered.

Ororo bent down and took his hand. “Scott, we need to get you to Hank.�

He shook his head. “No, I have to do this, Logan trusted me with it.�

“With what?�

Pulling the wrapped object he was carrying out from under his arm, he placed it in his lap and pulled the covering away to reveal a long red katana.

“The Muramasa,� Emma breathed out quietly.

Scott nodded. “Logan made me promise that if the situation should ever come up where he needed to be stopped, this could do it.�

“What is a Muramasa?� Bobby asked.

“A sword made by the demon smith himself, it is said that its blade can kill anyone cut by it,� Scott replied. “Logan entrusted it to me, and I gave him my word that I would do what needed to be done.�

“You’re in no shape for anything of the sort, Summers,� Bishop said. “You have lost a lot of blood and if you don’t get some attention soon, you just might die from your wound.�

Scoot shook his head and tried to rise. “Don’t have any choice.�

Emma pushed him back down. “Will you forget about this duty and honor crap, Scott, you’re going to die if you keep it up!�

Ororo reached down and gripped the hilt of the sword, picking it up. The sensation she was getting from the feel of the handle was not pleasant. She could feel the blood of thousands drip from the hilt and down into her hand. The blade seemed to hum with anticipation; it was thirsty.

“I will take it,� she said finally. “I will do what must be done if it comes to that.�

The others looked at her with worry.

Scott coughed as he spoke. “Ororo, you must understand that if you do this, there can be no hesitation, you will have to kill him.�

Ororo noticed a small glimmer of light from the corner of her eye. Walking over to it she could see the moonlight reflecting off the ring that her husband had thrown at her feet. She picked it up and held it and the hilt of the Muramasa tightly. “I understand full well what I must do Scott. I know what Logan would want.�

Storm tucked the ring away and headed for the door. The others, with the exception of Emma, who was taking Scott and Hank, followed closely behind her.

The woods beckoned to them, as did the beast within them.