Chance by Stormcrow

1. the Teacher by Stormcrow

2. Twilight Zone by Stormcrow

3. Once by Stormcrow

4. A Chance reunion by Stormcrow

5. Death's end by Stormcrow

6. What chances may come by Stormcrow

7. Chance encounters by Stormcrow

8. Inevitable chances by Stormcrow

9. Chance encounters by Stormcrow

10. A Chance lost by Stormcrow

the Teacher by Stormcrow
"Yōkai were ah class of obake, creatures in Japanese folklore, several with chinese origins just ta let ya know, ranging from the evil oni to the mischievous kitsune. Some possessed part animal and part human features. Yōkai generally had ah sort of spiritual or supernatural power, and so encounters with human beings tended ta be dangerous. Yōkai also have different motives and agendas from human beings, which are often completely incomprehensible.

Japanese folklorists and historians used yōkai as "supernatural or unaccountable phenomena to their informants". In the Edo period, many artists, such as Toriyama Sekien, created a lot of yōkai inspired by folklore or their own ideas, and present day not a few yōkai created by them wrongly considered as a legendary origin. Some yōkai simply avoided human beings; they generally inhabited secluded areas far from human dwellings. Other yōkai, however, choose to live near human settlements out of some strange attraction to mankind; perhaps they were drawn by the warmth of human houses, or the oil that humans keep to feed their fires. Yōkai were traditionally associated with fire, the direction northeast, and the season of summer, when the spirit world was closest to the world of humans. Yōkai are often depicted in guises as much humorous as terrifying." The instructor said as he saw a student raise her hand. "Yeah um....Kara is it?"

"Mr. Logan could you tell me who Toriyama Sekien is?" The young teenager questioned almost fearful of being ignored.

Logan smirked as he scratched the side of his think dark mane. "He was ah print artist of the genre ukiyo-e who specialised in yokai. Before engaging in printmaking, he was a painter of the Kano school. In the 1780s, Sekien undertook ah thorough study of the Japanese supernatural beings. The result was his Hyakki Yakō series, on which his fame lies."

"Oh um will there be a test on this?" The shy little book worm asked. She reminded Logan of the little book worm in Harry Potter. What was her name? Hermainie or something.

"Would you like it ta be?" Rebuttled Logan. "I'm sure a few of ya have an advanced form of memory. So remember'n ain't goin ta be hard for you, but this isn't pure facts. Ya have to want ta learn and enjoy it. I'm not one for books or tests but I do learn. The hard way at times but I do. Known books don't mean ya learned. Ta learn means to know it here..." He points to his heart " and use it here." He then points to his head.

It was at that point in time the bell rang and his class on Japanese Culture ended for the day. "Ah want ya ta read Konjaku Hyakki Shūi and we will talk bout it next week."

The students filed out past a figure waiting in the threshold. Her name is Ororo Monroe, the mutant named Storm.
"I here this is an interesting class to be in Logan." Storm's calm voice sounds like a song upon the wind.

"If ya say so 'Ro." Wolverine replied as he erased the chalk board. He liked ta teach the old way, with a chalk board, not through the holoemitters from the Shi'ar empire.

"Several children say that old friend. So much so I had to see it for my self." Ororo had stepped through the threshold now standing near is desk. "So are you going to continue the class next semister?"

"Don't know Ah'm suppose to tell Emma tomorrow." Logan grinned. "If nuthin happens like Sentinels or Brotherhoods."

"I have heard we may have a new member within our ranks." Ororo said casually changing the subjest.

"Yeah. Why tell me 'Ro?"

"Emma wants you to evalute him."

"Great." Who is this member?"

"My name is Chance, Chance Howlett." answers a man of about 6 foot stands at the door. His Ice Green eyes and black short hair set of his exotic features.

"What did you say your name was?" Logan asked

"Chance Howlett, is there something the matter?"

"No not really Chance." interrupts another man as he joins the small group. His name is Jack Micheals, a member of the academy but not the X-Men.

"Hello Jack." Ororo answered with a warm smile. "You see Chance you share a last name with another X-Man."

"Really? Who?" Chance asks

"Me." Logan walks out of the class room.


TO be continued
Twilight Zone by Stormcrow
"Let me get this straight, Ororo is married to the King of Wakanda, Scarlet Witch made it where there are very few mutants, they know about a third Summer’s brother but it’s not Remy LeBeau, Logan is part of the Avengers and X-Men, and the Hulk wanted to kill Xavier? What Twilight Zone episode am I in now?" Chance says as he takes a French Vanilla frappichino from Capitan Jack Michaels, "and what is this?"

"I often ask that same question." Jack pauses. "The twilight zone thing that is." Jack sits down across from the newest XSE member in his black leather lounge chair in the apartment he has been living in for two years now. "This is a frappichino, iced caffeine with a vanilla flavor. Try it you'll like it Chance."

"Jack...I mean Captain Michaels" Chance begins and is interrupted by Jack.

"Its Jack off duty or in private."

"Okay um, Jack who is this Gabriel Summers? In my world, my time line Rembrandt was the third son and was lost when Sinister gave him to the guild in New Orleans."

"That’s a good question Chance. Okay here is what I know but there are holes I’m still looking into. Vulcan's history began on the Shi'ar throne world as the unborn child of Christopher and Katherine Summers. Katherine was pregnant when the Summer’s were abducted by D'Ken, Majestor of the Shi'ar Imperium, and her child was seemingly killed when the mad emperor, in retaliation for an attempt by Corsair to escape, stabbed Katherine and killed her. The infant Vulcan was removed from Katherine's lifeless body and placed in an incubation-accelerator, used to breed new slaves, aging him to the prime adolescence.
Sent to Earth to become a slave for Erik the Red, the Emperor's hand on Earth, he escaped to be found by Moira MacTaggart with little or no memories of who he was or where he came from. She took him as her ward, and instructed him in the use of his nascent powers. He claimed his name was Gabriel, but he chose the code name of Vulcan from a book on Roman mythology, and Charles Xavier recognized his mental imprint as being related to Cyclops. He became part of a team of X-Men with Petra, Darwin, and Sway that attempted to rescue the original X-Men from Krakoa. Feeling Vulcan as a menace, Krakoa sent a human shaped volcano to deal with his team, killing the two girls and leaving Darwin and Vulcan for dead.
With the help of his dying teammates, Vulcan was able to survive, deep inside Krakoa. Reawakened recently by the mutant energies released during M-Day, he returned from his space exile to get revenge against Professor Xavier, killing Banshee in the process, as well as attempting to kill Logan and even kidnapping Rachel Summers and Cyclops.
Vulcan subconsciously used the absorbed powers of Petra and Sway to manipulate the X-Men, and figured out the truth of the mystery behind the missing team of X-Men that were lost on Krakoa. Vulcan was able to lure Professor Xavier out of hiding, and confronted him in front of the X-Men, wanting the Professor to reveal to them all what really happened to Vulcan and his team. However, Xavier was unable to do so, due to the fact that, in the wake of M-Day, he is no longer a Mutant. Enraged, Vulcan commanded Marvel Girl to link their minds so that everyone could see what transpired. Reluctantly, Rachel did so, and with Xavier as a guide, she was able to reveal the truth behind what really happened on Krakoa. He later left and went to the Shi'ar Throneworld over threw Lilandra, married Deathbird, healed D'Ken only to kill him, and then declared himself Emperor of the Shi'ar. Havok, Marvel Girl, Polaris, Ch'od, Raza, and Korvus formed a new team of Starjammers, after Vulcan killed his father, bent on defeating Gabriel once and for all, and salvaging the remains of the crippled Shi'ar Empire." Jack stops, thinking if he left any detail out, "I think that about covers it."
"So Scarlet Witch screwed up the entire continuum and now my history will never be written."
"That is about it in a nutshell."
"So why is moth...Ororo here now. Isn't she suppose to be running a kingdom with the Panther?"
"She came by to see how Logan was doing and to take a break from the Fantastic Four."
"She is part of the Fantastic Four?"
"I knew I forgot something." Jack scratches his ear. "She and Black Panther joined after Reed Richards and the Invisible woman left for a little R&R and to reconnect."
"So My da...Logan was part of the Fantastic four with Hulk, Spiderman and Ghostrider while Mo...Ororo is part of them with her "husband", Torch and Thing." Chance places his hand over his eyes as he continues.."I am in the Twilight Zone"
Once by Stormcrow
Her name is Ororo Monroe-Challa, she is queen of Wakanda, wife to T'Challa the BLACK PANTHER. She is the mutant known as STORM. Though tonight as the sun set in the western sky as she stood on the shore of the lake at the Xavier Institute she did not think of her husband. She thought of the last day she was here, before she went to Africa. She remembered that night with Logan......

//Flashback///

Ororo couldn't sleep. She had tried a number of things -- a glass of warm milk, a hot shower, even a CD of Gregorian chants. Sleep remained elusive. With a sigh of frustration, she punched her pillow before tossing it off the bed and sitting up. In the dark emptiness of her flat, she could admit it -- she was sexually frustrated. It wasn't diffuse frustration, either. No, her unfulfilled desire centered on one maddening wild man whose crooked grins and outrageous quips simultaneously made her want to kiss him and electrocute him.

The small, discreet touches were driving her insane. Logan's hand on the small of her back as he guided her out of a room, the brush of his fingers against her shoulders as he helped her put on her coat... Those gestures made her skin prickle and warm until she marveled that she didn't burst into flames. The rational side in her recognized that spontaneous human combustion was improbable, but the woman in her wondered.

The woman in her had long since realized just how well her old friend was structured -- and wondered how they might fit together. Too much time spent wondering about that could be distracting, which could be fatal in their line of work. Could it be that the only rational thing to do was to sleep with the man called WOLVERINE? Yes, perhaps just once. They were both adults; surely this was the answer. The physical release should be enough to dim her curiosity. Then they could go back to being friends, without any distractions.

She knew that he found her at least somewhat physically attractive. His glance had been decidedly appreciative and their kiss they shared after the purple man.

She wouldn't know for sure unless she asked. Ororo brushed her teeth, eying her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks flushed. Not surprising, given that she'd just been fantasizing about Logan and his...structure. The fantasies had stolen her sleep one too many nights. She had to do something.

After rinsing her mouth, she removed the elastic band that held her hair up in a loose ponytail. She bent at the waist and hung her head for a moment, fluffing her hair. One pair of jeans, one foil-wrapped condom, and two swipes of deodorant later and she was ready to face her friend.

The walk to Logan's boat house was quiet. As she approached the front of Logan's house, her watch read 2:30 A.M.. The cool September air washed over her and she shivered, the weather never affected her so.

Taking a deep breath, Ororo rapped on Logan's door and then again lightly. Despite the distinct chill, her hands were moist. She wiped them on her jeans and waited. When nothing but the sound of small insects reached her ears, she turned to leave. Perhaps she should just go back to her room. If she still wasn't able to sleep, she'd shower and head into the Danger Room.

But she had gone only a few steps when she heard a door open behind her.

"'Ro?"

The silk and sandpaper of Logan's voice rasped against her in a nearly tangible caress. It was too late to escape. She slowly turned to face him. "Good morning, old friend," she replied, forcing her voice to remain even. The sight that met her eyes made that a difficult task.

Logan's dark brown hair stood up in spikes that radiated from his head like a deranged halo. Not that she was religious. And her thoughts were anything but pure as she drank him in with her eyes. He was shirtless. She watched in fascination as his nipples pebbled in reaction to the cold.

"What's wrong? Is everything ok?" He yawned and reached up to rub the back of his neck. The motion made the muscles in his arms and chest flex in a very interesting fashion.

"I'm fine. Why did you take so long to answer the door?" she asked, the question clearly a complaint. "I would have thought your senses would make you a light sleeper."

His only response was a pointed glare. Then he stepped outside, his feet bare, and wrapped his hand around her wrist. "Man, it's cold out here."

She glanced down at his chest. "Yes, it appears to be, since your nipples are erect," she stated.

"Hey! Enough with the staring at my nipples," he said as he tugged her into his apartment.

She allowed him to lead her inside, observing how his long, warm, male fingers encompassed her entire wrist. Her pulse pounded in response.

Logan loosened his grasp on her, and it was then that Ororo noticed his claws were extended from his right hand.

"I didn't come here to murder you in your sleep," she said with a smile, pointing to his metal claws.

"You can never be too careful, 'Ro."

"Or too paranoid," she muttered.

He glanced up. "What was that?"

"Nothing," she replied. "Did I wake you?" she asked, changing the subject and hoping to buy herself some time to order her thoughts.

Logan huffed and rolled his eyes. "It's after 2:00 in the morning," he said. "Of course you woke me." His gaze swept her face, sharpening as it lingered on her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"What? Yes, I am."

"Well I know you didn't just happen to be in the neighborhood. So 'fess up. Why are you here?"

The moment of truth had arrived. What had seemed like a perfectly logical and persuasive argument back at her flat seemed much less so now that she was seated next to her half-naked desire. Could she really tell him that she wanted him? She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. "I...That is...Remember when we faced the Pur.." The words lodged in her throat and she dissolved into a coughing fit.

Logan rose from the couch. "Hang on, I'll get you a glass of water."

Ororo concentrated on getting her breathing under control, but she couldn't help taking a peek at Logan's retreating figure. The thin grey cotton of his pajama pants clung lovingly to his backside and suggested that he wasn't wearing any underwear. That observation nearly sent her into another round of coughing.

She was nearly composed by the time he returned from the kitchen, bearing two glasses of water. He handed her one. The strong curve of his shoulder was pure temptation; she barely resisted the urge to nip him. "He has heighten senses he has to know." She thought

"Here. Drink." He watched her silently, eyes dark and impenetrable, until she'd finished half the glass and set it down on the coffee table. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you." She looked down at the couch and traced a small circle in the cushion. "I couldn't sleep."

"You want to talk about it?" He reached over to her, touching he knee. The gentle touch sent a shudder through her. She pulled back and looked up at him.

"I came here to talk about you...and me."

Logan leaned back and tilted his head slightly. He narrowed his eyes at her and crossed his arms over his chest in what appeared to be a defensive posture, if the book she'd been reading about body language was to be believed.

"Is there a problem?"

"Yes. There is a problem. I haven't been sleeping lately. And I'm concerned that it's starting to affect me. There's only one thing I can think to do about it."

"Hold on. Back up. Are you saying I'm keeping you awake at night?"

"Yes. You." She stood up and started to pace, clenching her fists in agitation. "You," she said, pointing her index finger at him, "are keeping me up, and it has to stop. I told you, the thing with the Purple Man. The physical release, the connection -- we all need it. If we do it, if we have sex..." She heard Logan make a choking sound. "...just once, maybe that will be enough. We're both adults, and we're friends. We can be mature about this." Her pacing led her to one end of the living room. She turned and reversed her direction, stopping in front of Logan. "Well?" Ororo quirked an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

She watched as Wolverine's mouth opened and closed a few times and a red flush appeared high on his cheeks. "Storm, are you telling me you're here for a booty call?" he said.

Logan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and waited for Ororo to answer his question. What the hell was he going to say if she said yes? He felt himself start to harden at the thought. Hey, quit it. Think about something else, fast. Dirt, skeletons, blood, old women, baseball. Baseball, yes baseball Jackpot! He started to go soft.

"Well, it isn't accurate to say I called you." He winced and covered his eyes.

"Do you always have to be so damned literal?"

She sat across from him on the edge of his coffee table and mirrored his posture. As she leaned forward, her tank top gaped away from her chest. He fought not to look. He lost. "You didn't let me finish. While I didn't actually call you, it's true that I am interested in your...booty."

"Never, and I do mean never, let me hear you say that word again. It's just...not right."

"Which word? Booty?"

"Ah!" He covered her mouth with his hand. "What did I just say?" Her reply came out muffled against his palm. He snatched his hand back as soon as his brain processed the fact that her lips were soft and warm against his skin. This was Storm, his friend.

He couldn't go there with her... Could he?

A man would have to be blind and a monk not to notice she was stacked; Logan was neither. But that didn't mean anything. Men liked to look. He was a man. Therefore he liked to look. It didn't have to mean anything. But he loved her too.

"It doesn't have to mean anything."

"Huh?"

"Logan, You're not listening. Please pay attention," she said impatiently. "I was saying..." She paused, narrowed her eyes, and gave him a pointed look. "It doesn't have to mean anything. It's just sex. It would just be sex -- satisfying biological urges. Nothing more."

"Storm, we work together." He mentally patted himself on the back for keeping his tone patient.

"That didn't stop you from sleeping with Betts, or all the other so called X-Women."

So much for patience. "That was different," he said with a dismissive wave. This time he didn't bother hiding his irritation.

"How so?" Her blue eyes pinned him and he squirmed. He'd never admit it, but he admired this about her -- her unflinching directness. It was just his luck that he usually happened to be on the receiving end of it.

"It just is."

"That's very poor logic."

"Whatever, Storm. "

"Interesting how you always accuse me of not sharing enough, yet here you are, doing your best to be as evasive as possible."

Unable to come up with a scathing reply, Wolverine settled for glaring at her.

"Fine, we'll ignore the matter of you sleeping with around like a slut."."

"Thanks," he muttered, bracing himself for whatever she might say next.

"So admit it, you enjoy kissing me."

"Kissing you? Have you lost your mind? It was that or kill you Storm."

"Funny what you picked"

"Quit it, Ororo."

"You're lying, logan."

"Oh, so now you're questioning my honor."

"Not your honor, just your honesty. But I'll believe you...if you swear on Mariko's grave"

"Now you're just being childish."

"You can't do it, can you? I know you think I'm not good with people, but I'm not stupid either. I know you wanted to kiss me. What I don't understand is why you're trying to deny it now."

"Believe what you want. I'm not going to swear anything on her grave."

"Are you afraid of me? Perhaps you're not used to assertive women who are willing to act on their sexual impulses. Perhaps I intimidate you."

"You don't intimidate me frail." He leaned forward, squashing the thrill of excitement that flared through him as he invaded her personal space. "Why would you even think that?"

"Emma says men are much more fragile and needy."

"Yeah, well Emma says a lot of things. What's with the psychology, anyway? I thought you hated that stuff."

"I do. But you are behaving rather oddly."

I'm behaving oddly? You're the one who showed up at my place in the middle of the night looking for I don't even know what."

She shook her head and shot him a penetrating look. "I've told you exactly why I'm here."

He swallowed thickly as Ororo slipped off the coffee table and moved to kneel between the V of his legs. The moment shifted, altered, grew heavy.

"What are you doing?"

"Going with my gut. You're always telling me I should trust it."

"And exactly what is your gut telling you?"

"That you're afraid of me."

"Are we back to that again? I. Am. Not. Afraid. Of. You."

"Prove it."

"How?"

Her lips curved in a knowing smile that told him he'd walked right into that one. "Kiss me. Just once. I dare you."

"Careful, 'Ro. This could be considered sexual harassment."

"Only if you say no." Her lips parted and she looked at him, with eyes that were wide open but dark and hazy with something that looked an awful lot like lust, instead of being sharp with cool intelligence the way they usually were.

"Are you saying no?"

Mere inches separated them, the space between them electric with awareness. His gaze skipped from the blue of her eyes to the moist pink of her mouth. Then it moved lower. Strands of her hair curled across the upper curve of her breasts, shone reddish brown in the lamplight.

Logan didn't stand a chance, and he knew it. He reached out and caught several of the strands, rubbed the silky ends between his fingers, allowing his knuckles to graze her silky skin. Her chest rose and fell with her breath, but she was otherwise still -- waiting for an answer to her question -- waiting for him to kiss her.

So he did.

He brushed his lips across hers, keeping the pressure light, giving her a chance to change her mind, though she was the one who had initiated things. Ororo was right; he was afraid. Not of her, but of not being able to go back. They were poised on the edge of something that couldn't be undone. He wondered if she understood that, worried that she didn't.

But none of that mattered at the moment, he told himself. What mattered was that she was there, in his apartment, wanting him to touch her. Wanting him. He'd always imagined that if he ever got this close to her, he'd pay for it dearly. A slap in the face at least. Broken bones at the most; she did know three forms of martial arts.

He'd been wrong.

She'd surprised him, again.

As gentle and deliberate as that first kiss was, apparently Storm wanted more. Her fingers tunneled through his hair, cupped the base of his skull, holding him still as her mouth slanted hungrily over his, demanding and impossibly hot. Pleasure shot through him at the unfamiliar but more than welcome contact. There was nothing tentative about the velvet slide of her tongue against his. She tasted like toothpaste and desire. He wanted more. He wanted it all.

Fire raced through his veins, awakening every nerve ending in his body. Then She rose from the floor and sank onto his lap, straddling him. He growled low in his throat as she pressed herself against him. The heat and scent of her were doing crazy things to him, making him ache and throb. He wrapped his arms around her, stroking down the smooth line of her neck and shoulders to the sweet spot where her back dipped and curved into her ass. He felt her shudder and heard her breath hitch as he cupped her there.

New...This, her body, her responses -- they were all new to him. He resolved then to learn just where and how she liked to be touched. If she let him.

When she suddenly sat back against his thighs and reached for the waistband of his pants, he caught her questing hand in his and mentally cursed himself for his sometimes inconvenient sense of honor. Searching her eyes with his own, he said, "Whoa, slow down, 'Ro. Are you sure about this?"
Ororo slid off Logan's lap and leaned back against the armrest of the couch. Her heart still pounded from their kiss, and she struggled with the desire to grab him and pull him flush against her. She ached to feel his weight on top of her, pressing her into the soft, thick cushions of his couch, which seemed made for sex.

"I'm sure that if we stop now, I'll scream. Logan, we can't go on like this." She gestured between the both of them. "There's something -- an unexplored sexual rapport if you will -- between us. We're both healthy, consenting, unattached adults. Who would we hurt by doing this?" She gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile. "Think of it as your professional duty."

"My professional duty? Please show me where in my job description it says I have to sleep with my friend."

"I'll concede that's not officially part of your job. But you want to do your job to the best of your ability, don't you? And I can tell you that contemplating what you're like in bed is distracting me. I can't sleep, and if I can't sleep, it will eventually affect my work. I know neither of us wants that. But perhaps you're simply unsure of your sexual prowess--"

"Hey, I'll have you know that no one has ever complained about my technique. I always leave my women satisfied, thank you very much." He groaned and looked up at the ceiling. "I can't believe we're even having this conversation."

"I have noticed that talking about sex makes you very uncomfortable." She watched, fascinated, as Logan's jaw tightened.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He glared at her.

"Yes, you do." She remained silent for nearly a minute. Why shouldn't he suffer a little, too, if he was going to make this so difficult for her?

"Sex."

Logan's mouth twitched in reaction.

"Intercourse."

He cracked his neck.

"See, you just cracked your neck."

"So what? That doesn't mean anything." He scratched his nose and avoided meeting her gaze.

"Fuck," she whispered, leaning over him, her breath fanning his face.

He jumped and firmly set her away from him. "Ok. Enough, 'Ro," he said, clearly uncomfortable.

Ororo schooled her features into an innocent expression. A quick glance downward confirmed what she suspected -- Logan had a very obvious erection. Interesting, she thought, filing away the information for later. When she looked back up, he was scowling. He crossed his arms over his lap.

Taking pity on him, Ororo decided a slight change of subject was in order. "Haven't you ever just slept with someone and not had it become a full-blown relationship?"

"Sure. But you and me, we make good partners. Good friends. I don't want to ruin that."

"Neither do I. But that's not inevitable. It's just one night. And it's just sex."

"Just sex. Got it." His brow furrowed in such a way that she was sure he was about to argue with her. "And what if you fall in love with me? What happens to our friendship then?"

Ororo snorted and shook her head. "While I'm sure your technique is more than adequate, Logan, I can assure you that I will not fall in love with you after one night of intercourse. Of course, if this is your way of trying to tell me that you're in love with me..."

Logan's eyes widened and he inched even further away from her. "What? No, I am definitely not in love with you. I mean, I like you. But that's it. "

"I like you, too," she said with a smile. "And for some reason I can't explain yet, I'm craving sexual release with you." The last words were spoken in a tone ripe with resentment. She knew she sounded petulant, but she couldn't help it; she didn't want to want any man."You say that like it's a terrible thing. Like I'm the last guy you'd choose. Look, 'Ro, if you're going to insult me, you may as well just go home and do whatever you need to do alone."

"Don't you think I've tried that already?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and moistening her lips. Her eyes never left his. "Masturbation serves a purpose, but it isn't nearly as satisfying as having a partner."

Logan's mouth opened and closed several times, but no words came out. A dark flush worked its way up his cheeks, and Storm had the gratification of knowing she'd rendered Logan temporarily speechless. It didn't happen nearly as often as she'd like, so she had to savor the small victories. Taking advantage of his discomfiture, she crawled over to him on her hands and knees. When she reached his side, she sat back on her heels and leaned in until her mouth was millimeters from his ear. "Come on, Logan. You know you want me. I know you want me." What she knew was how much she wanted him. If she didn't have him, just this once, she might go crazy. Of course, that wasn't truly possible.

"How do you know what I want?" he said, his voice hoarse.

She reached out, intending to cup him through the worn cotton of his pants, but in a flash of movement, Logan pulled her back onto his lap. "I'll show you exactly what I want."

"Finally."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

Clasping her hips with both hands, he ground himself against her until her eyes fluttered shut and a moan escaped her lips. When she would have taken off her jeans, he stopped her. "Patience, Goddess," he said. Logan caught her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her palm. A shiver coursed through her and her eyes fluttered shut. Releasing her hand, he nipped at her bottom lip before soothing it with his tongue. Threading his hands through her hair, he tilted her head so that he could look at her. His eyes softened as they met hers. "Good things to come those who wait," he chided.

"Then this had better be exceptional," she said, trying to breathe normally.

She yelped when he swatted her lightly on the bottom. "Oh, trust me, it will be." His all-too-self-assured grin had her rolling her eyes.

Logan rose from the couch, forcing Storm to wrap her legs around his waist in order to keep from falling. "What are you doing?" she asked breathlessly.

"We're not doing this on my couch," he replied with a crooked smile before marching them across the room and down a dark hallway.

She shrugged. "It seems like a perfectly good couch."

"Anyone ever tell you you talk too much?"

"Only you." She stifled a smile. "However, there are other things I can do with my mouth besides talk..."

"Is that so?"

His response was casual, but she heard his breath quicken.
The idea that he could carry her without betraying even a hint of strain was strangely exciting. She tightened her arms around his neck and pressed her breasts against the warmth of his bare chest. An answering warmth washed over her body, settled low in her belly. Acting on impulse, Storm buried her face in Logan's neck and inhaled deeply. He smelled like...like nothing she could name. Yet she yearned to wrap herself in his scent. She shuddered involuntarily and clenched her teeth against the raw need unfurling in her.

Logan must have felt her movement. "You ok?" he asked.

She felt the words vibrate up through the wall of his chest. "Hurry," she replied.

His arms tightened around her and he laughed, low and deep, tugging at something inside her. "All right. Let's see if I can't help you with your problem."

Logan stopped and brushed her hair back from her face before gently setting her down on his bed. Disappointment washed over her when he didn't immediately join her. The world had narrowed to the scent of his skin and the drumbeat of his pulse under her ear during their journey to his bedroom. It expanded again as she took advantage of the lull to examine her surroundings and attempt to decelerate the rapid beat of her heart.

Surprisingly, the curtains were open, allowing a bit of hazy ambient light to filter in from outside. A lamp on the night-stand cast enough light that she could make out the dark mahogany luster of the sleigh bed. Its strong lines and sleek curves reminded her of the man who would soon occupy it ” with her. She shivered and turned her attention to the other objects on his night-stand. A photograph of him and another man in a plain wooden frame. Next to that lay a book and a magazine. She moved until she could see the titles ” War and Peace, and beneath that, Hot Rod. A quick rifle through the slick magazine pages revealed colorful pictures of cars and their innards. She set the magazine down and brushed her hand over the cover of the book, shooting a look over her shoulder at Logan, who remained standing at the foot of the bed.

"What? I read."

Her lips twitched at his defensive tone. "I don't doubt it. But knowing about this..." She tapped the book with her index finger. "...would make Hank a very happy man."

"Which is why you're not going to mention it to him."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm asking you not to. As a favor."

"Hm. And what do I get in return for this favor?"

"You're really ungrateful, you know that? I already promised to help you with your problem."

"I would be grateful if you'd actually help me. So far all I've gotten is a lot of macho posturing." A shrug of her shoulders and an exaggerated sigh. "I'm beginning to think you're all talk."

He advanced on her then, stalking her with a predatory grace that reminded her he had once been a sniper.

She inched backward on the bed until she sat against the headboard. Then there was nowhere left to move.

logan's eyes glimmered dangerously, and she suppressed a shiver. He caged her with his arms before curving his hands around her hips and pulling her down until she lay on her back in his bed. "You make me crazy," he murmured against her ear. She gasped as his breath tickled her and the meaning of his words sank in.

Then he kissed her, and this time there was no hesitation. Just the firm press of his mouth against hers and the warm caress of his hands on her face. Her heart hammered in her chest. Yes. This was what she had wanted, what she had needed, when she lay in her own bed and fought her irrational desire for him. Kissing him back, she teased his bottom lip until he relented and opened his mouth. Her tongue swept in to taste him and she heard him groan.

This audible evidence of his hunger sent a bolt of delicious heat straight to her core. "What do you mean, I make you crazy?"

"Lately" he paused to nibble on her earlobe, "all I can focus on is the shape of your perfect, perfect mouth."

Feeling triumphant, she pulled back and cupped Logan's face with both hands, so she could look directly in his eyes. "Then you admit it's mutual."

He laughed shakily and grasped her right hand. He moved it to his erection, held it there for a long moment. "Yeah, it's mutual."

She'd known. Of course she'd known. The guy hugs, the almost-kisses, the way he looked at her sometimes when he thought she wouldn't notice. She wasn't an idiot. But to hear him admit it...

A secret part of her thrilled at the knowledge that Logan was hard for her.

Emboldened by his admission, she pushed him onto his back and touched him again, stroking him through his pants.

Logan's head fell back as he groaned, exposing the column of his throat. His hips jerked, and he arched into her hand; heat pooled between her legs. But before Ororo could take his pants off as she wanted to, his hand shot out and caught her wrist, stilling her movement.

"No."

"Wolverine, I'm tired of waiting." She knew she sounded whiny, but she didn't care.

"You needed help, and you came to me. Logan, problem solver, the best at what I do, at your service." He freed her hand and sat up. "I'm glad you're here," he said, eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled, "and believe me, I want you, too. But tonight is all about you."

"I don't understand."

"You will."

The way he said it sent a frisson of anticipation skittering up her spine. "Logan, this is only happening once." It wouldn't do to have him thinking it, this, would be happening again. Reasonable expectations needed to be set.

He leaned over her, his body blocking the light, and trailed a series of hot, wet, open-mouthed kisses along her throat.

She moaned in response and shifted restlessly, spearing her fingers into his hair. "Just tonight," she said, shuddering as Wolverine's mouth sought the hollow of her clavicle. "To defuse the tension," she said breathlessly.

"I know," he said, the words deliciously muffled against her skin. He lifted his head, dark hair adorably mussed from her wandering fingers, and met her gaze. "Relax, 'Ro. It's just sex. I get it," he said.

She could have sworn his eyes glinted with mockery. But then he shifted closer, and their lips met in a kiss that temporarily stole her breath and her thoughts. His mouth slanted over hers again and again. His scent surrounded her, cradled her. It clung to his sheets and rose from his skin, enveloping her.

He teased her, just barely allowing the tip of his tongue to graze hers, until she moaned, desperate to taste him fully.

She heard him chuckle, and she swallowed his laughter with her mouth, kissing him deeply. She used her tongue to stroke the inside of his mouth, allowing it to tangle with his. Had he tasted so good in her fantasies? No. And tasting him now only increased the ache that had been building steadily within her.

Hungry. She was so hungry. No, she was starving for him ” for his mouth, and his hands, and his manhood.

Her breasts felt heavy and swollen with want. Before she could even think to ask him to touch her there, his hand lifted, only to settle on her right breast, cupping her through the fabric of her shirt and bra. Ororo wanted, needed the heat of his skin against hers. She pushed Logan away so that she could lift up enough to wriggle out of the tank top that suddenly felt much, much tighter than it had before. She fumbled with the hooks on her bra, desperate to be naked.

"Here, let me do it." With fingers that seemed steadier than hers, logan helped her remove her clothing.

When she finally lay before him naked, he settled beside her. She wasn't ashamed of her body, but it seemed important, suddenly, that Wolverine be pleased with it.

Eyes solemn and locked on hers, he traced a trembling finger from the center of her forehead, over her nose, lips, and chin, down her throat, between her breasts, and over her stomach, stopping just above where she wanted him most. He smoothed his palm over her mons, the heat of his hand spreading outward from where he touched her until she felt warm all over.

He finally looked away, his eyes straying to her breasts. Her nipples hardened under the weight of his stare, pleading for his attention. How much more of this sweet torment could she take?

"Show me where you want me," he rasped.

The low tenor of his voice told her he was as affected as she was.

Feeling as if she were moving in slow motion, Ororo reached out for his hand and placed it flush against her breast.

"Only my hands?" he whispered, stroking around and around her nipple, coming oh so tantalizingly close.

She shook her head, feeling her cheeks flush.

"Good," he replied, "because I really want to put my mouth on you."

In a flash of movement he was on top of her, the delicious weight of his body pressing her back into the bed. Lifting up slightly, he moved down until his mouth hovered just above her pebbled nipple. Finally, when she thought she might just die if he didn't kiss her there, he lowered his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth. Chills wracked her body, and she gripped his head, holding him in place. Each tug of his lips elicited an answering throb in her sex. He released her nipple and bent to brush his stubbled cheek against her sensitive skin. Sensation rippled through her. She looked down, and the sight of Logan's dark hair against the caramel coloring of her breasts nearly undid her. He laved her nipple with his tongue and blew a soft breath over it. It tightened even further, almost painfully, and she bucked upward, eyes squeezed shut, seeking the moist heat of his mouth.

"Easy,'Ro," he said, kissing the underside of one breast and then the other, attempting to dampen the blaze that he'd kindled.

When she'd calmed sufficiently, she opened her eyes to find him watching her with heavy-lidded eyes. He cupped both her breasts in his hands and squeezed them together.

"Fuck," he said with a sigh. "You're gorgeous." The reverence with which he spoke the words contrasted with their coarseness.

He moved up until they were face to face again and covered her with his body. He grasped her leg right beside her knee, and she understood that he wanted her to wrap her legs around him. She did so, grinding herself against him until they were both panting. She could feel him, even through his pants. Each time his cock rubbed against her, it sparked the most exquisite friction. He'd buried his face against her throat, and each hot breath sent a fresh wave of sensation coursing through her.

She clutched at his bare back and felt the taut muscles bunch under her hands. How many countless, frustrating nights had she fantasized about Logan, especially after watching him in the Danger Room? Oh, she'd always known he was well-structured. Her hands mapped the width of his back, the curve of his tricep, and the bulge of his bicep, committing them to memory.

This was better than any fantasy she'd ever had. Giving in to her earlier impulse, she nipped his shoulder.

"Ow!"

"Sorry," she said, sounding anything but. "I've been wanting to do that since you opened the door and let me in."

He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. "Really?" he asked, sounding pleased.

"Mmhmm."

"So, uh, what else have you been wanting to do to me? You know, you mentioned I've been keeping you up at night."

"Are you asking me to tell you about my fantasies?"

"Yeah. Don't you think you should, seeing as this is our first and only night together?"

"No. It would just kill the mystery," she deadpanned. "But since I just shared something private, I think you should, too. Tell me something you want to do to me."

"I already told you. I want..." His voice trailed off.

"What?" she prodded.

"I want to put my mouth on you," he said, voice strained.

Ororo shuddered at his words and felt a rush of wetness. Then her eyes widened as she processed what he'd said. But before she could formulate an appropriate response, Logan moved down on the bed.

With infinitely gentle hands, he spread her legs. Her eyes fluttered shut as she waited for the first touch. When seconds ticked by and it didn't come, she opened her eyes and lifted her head to look down at him. She found him looking at her with rapt attention. "Logan?" she said, suddenly unsure.

"You are...It's..." He cleared his throat and met her gaze, eyes hot. "You're pink. And wet; I can see it. Is that because of me?" he asked, his voice husky and his eyes dark with a hunger she suspected was reflected in her own eyes.

She shivered and fought the urge to run then, as the sheer intimacy of the moment sank in. The naked honesty of the question simultaneously shook her and sent her arousal soaring one level higher. She was in bed with James Logan Howlett, the Wolverine, a man she worked with, bickered with, relied on...and fantasized about. Was she wet because of him?

"Yes," she finally answered.

He rewarded her with a smile that made her breath catch in her throat.
She cried out, shocked by the intensity of feeling that swept through her when he touched her, parting her folds with his fingers.

"Shh," he whispered, his breath warm against the tender skin of her inner thigh. "It's ok." He pressed soft kisses against her skin as he stroked her.

With each deft touch, the pleasure coiled tighter and tighter. She heard his sharp inhale. "You smell so good," he murmured a second before he replaced his finger with his tongue.

His tongue barely grazed her clit, but she reared off the bed, gasping. He dipped his tongue into her center. She moaned at the undeniable pleasure of the intimate kiss. Logan curled his hands under her bottom and pulled her up toward his mouth. He began to lick her in earnest, setting a steady pace that had her undulating her hips in time with each sure stroke of his tongue.

She struggled to hold on to the last shreds of her control. But she'd been waiting so long, aching for release, that she knew she wouldn't last long. "Logan," she said. Not when he was flicking his tongue against her like that. Not when she could hear him moaning, too.

"Come for me," he commanded. "I want you to come in my mouth."

Not when ” She felt him slide a finger inside her. Oh. "LOGAN!," she cried, her voice pitched high. Her muscles tightened, and she shook as the orgasm washed over her entire body in hot waves.

The aftershocks trembled through her as he gave her one last slow lick. Finally, after the last tremor subsided, he moved up to lay beside her, kissing her softly on the mouth. She tasted herself on him, and for some reason that made her smile.

Logan pulled back and traced a finger along the edges of her mouth. She turned her head to look at him, feeling boneless and spent. She blinked, once, twice. She was spent, but he wasn't. Stifling a yawn, she reached out a hand and pressed it against Logan's erection. "What about you?" she asked. "I can take care of you," she said, blinking rapidly in an effort to keep him in focus. Her limbs were loose and heavy, and her eyes suddenly felt unbearably heavy, too.

"I can wait," he said with a soft laugh. "I've waited this long already."

"Mmm. No," she said, trying to shake her head but finding it unwilling to obey her brain's commands. "One night, Logan," she mumbled.

"I know, I know. One night."

Storm felt Wolverine kiss her fingertips and smooth her hair from her forehead. She sighed and snuggled closer to him. He was warm, and he smelled nice.

"You're not gonna tell Hank about the book, are you, 'Ro?"

"Not since you conceded to my demands."

"That's my girl," he said, patting her hip.

They continued to make love till noon. Afterwards Logan slept and she left. She left the X-Men and went home to Africa.
A Chance reunion by Stormcrow
The control room of the mythical X-MEN Danger Room

She was once an X-Man, now consort a king, her name is Ororo Monroe-Challa, the world knows her though as STORM.

How often in the past had she stood here just to watch the feral WOLVERINE move through his scenarios in the fabled danger room? No matter how long the time, no matter how often she had seen those fluidic movements she always had to smile. He was beautiful. No not just beautiful, he was majestically so. He was nature’s wild incarnate.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” said a voice from behind Ororo. Though she did not hear her enter, she knew who it was. That didn’t explain why her voice sounded as cold as a glacier.

“Marie.” Ororo waited for a reply. Her time with her husband had taught her that many confrontations whether social, diplomatic, or otherwise was more like a chess match than she realized. It was a game of strategy, intrigue, guile, and cunning. Something that Ororo had found she was better at than she knew.

“Only friends call me that sugar,” her southern accent had begun to disappear. “It’s ROGUE.”

A pang of sadness entered Ororo’s heart that Marie seemed not to consider her a friend anymore. What had she missed when she left the X-Men?

“So you came back?” Rogue asked, direct and almost confrontational.

“I don’t know Rogue. I only agreed to help Charles find out why people are being transformed into grotesque mockeries and how.” Ororo’s reply was unemotional, hard to read. Rogue smirked slightly. The Panther had changed Ororo.

“Don’t expect any of us to jump for joy Storm.” Rogue turned toward the door, “you hurt him when you left.”

“I know.”

The simulation ended as Storm noticed the object of her watchful eye gained a visitor.


The man named Wolverine flipped, somersaulted, leapt, and clawed at the Danger room constructs with a near-freedom he had nearly forgotten with his stint in the New Avengers, his own globetrotting, and the current fight with the HULK. With that thought, a tinge of pain entered his soul and his headache returned slightly. Hulk was stronger than before, more in tune with himself than ever before. Logan envied that. Hulk had a right to be angry with Strange, Namor, Richards, Xavier, Black-bolt, and Stark. That last name left a bad taste in Logan’s mouth. Stark reminded him of another, who had the same moral convictions, his name was ADOLF HITLER.

As he thought those very words the simulation ended and the Danger room re-enforced adamantium doors opened. Logan thought it was Ororo finally coming to speak to him after standing in the observation room, but it was not.

“What da ya want Chucky?” Logan’s demeanor told the man known to the world as PROFESSOR X specifically that Logan was still upset with him.

“Wolverine I came to talk to you.”

“So ya came off da mountain to me? What am I Mohammad?” Logan began to walk past Xavier until Xavier spoke.

“I wasn’t there when they decided.”

Logan turned, his temper had burst, the anger caused the blood vessels to bulge, his skin tone turned from the tanned, weathered color to a deep red.

“YOU WOULD HAVE VOTED WITH THEM CHUCK! WHAT GIVES YOU OR ANYONE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHATS THE BEST FOR ANYONE! YOU’RE HEMMLER TO STARK’S HITLER!” Spittle flew from Wolverine’s mouth as he yelled.

“I’m not a Nazi Logan,” calmly stated Xavier. “We did what we though was best for everyone.”

“THE SUPERHUMAN REGESTRATION ACT IS ANOTHER MUTANT REGESTRATION ACT! HOW COULD YOU EVEN HAVE BACKED THAT AFTER YOU FOUGHT THAT CRAP FOR SO LONG? ANSWER THAT ONE CHUCK!” Logan was fuming, his nostrils flaring in and out. The beast was close.

“It got out of hand Logan. We only wanted to help guide…”

“GUIDE! GUIDE WHAT? THE HELPLESS, STUPID MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO CAN’T THINK FOR THEMSELVES? LET ME TELL YA CHUCK WE ARE NOT ALL STUPID AND WE ARE NOT ALL SHEEP! HOW DARE YOU...”

“HOW DARE I? DARE I WHAT?” Charles calmed his voice and curbed his temper, “Contrary to what you believe Logan the majority of the people want to be led. Why not help them? The moral and ethical base that we once had has fallen as corruption has seeped into everyday life. They need to be protected from themselves. Every time a person gained super abilities whether mutation or not, they put on a pair of tights and endangered the general populace.”

“NO ONE HAS THAT RIGHT XAVIER! YOU DIDN’T HAVE THAT RIGHT WHEN YOU HID THE FACT ABOUT CYKE AND ALEX’S BROTHER, OR WHEN YOU MIND WIPED A FEW DOZEN PEOPLE, OR OTHER TIMES IT BENEFITTED YOU!”

“You did worst than I could have….”

“I KILLED. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HONEST ABOUT WHAT I WAS XAVIER! MEN CONTROLLED ME AND THEY WERE EXACTLY LIKE YOU! THE ONLY REASON I AM STILL HERE IS FOR THOSE KIDS! SO @#$% YOU AND THE IRON HORSE OF A MAN YOU RIDE WITH!”


Wolverine walked out leaving Charles Xavier alone, sitting motionless until he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his face from the spittle.
“Storm?” Xavier said as he looked to the control room, only to see the observation room empty.


“Mommy don’t go! Please Mommy!” A little boy screams as a teenage female with white hair, her color the same caramel as their mother’s was holding him.

“Don’t cry my little man. I must go.” The Voice is calm, almost serene. “If I don’t then many will die.”

“MMMOOOOOMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!” The child screams, as he looks skyward watching the fiery bird hurl itself into space toward a black star.

“MOTHER!” Chance screamed as he awoke. That dream hadn’t bothered him for years but now it pierced his mind as a spear through flesh. As his vision cleared, he realized where he was, and what had happened as he saw the furniture and walls of his room.

“So much for the security deposit.”

As he got up he heard a voice at his door and a rather forceful entering. Standing in the doorway was James Proudstar the man called WARPATH. Behind him a white feline-like humanoid the world now knows as HEPZIBAH and the man called Wolverine.

“He’s in shape isn’t he?” replies Hephzibah teasingly, observing Chance in only a pair of shorts.

Warpath looked over his shoulder, raising an eye brow at her remark.

“Don’t worry kid she still has da hots fer ya,” Logan says passing the tall Native American. “Ya look like ya could use a drink. Get dressed and come out with us.”

“What time is it?” Chance asks still slightly confused from his nightmare.

“Its early around 10pm,”answered Proudstar, “Sorry about the door.”

“Not a problem as you can see that’s the least of my problems,” replies Chance with a smirk on his face.

The room looked as though a grenade exploded dead center where the bed once was.

“Lucky da Cajun isn’t here anymore. He loved that bed,” Logan scratched his chin showing his famous smirk.

Minutes later as the four begin walking out of the front door of the mansion all four stop and sniff the air as they all smell jasmine and sweet water. The smell is so faint no one except those that had enhanced senses could detect it. Logan knows the smell all too well.

“You kids go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

“Not a problem Logan. We’ll be at Harry’s.” Proudstar puts his arm around Hephzibah’s shoulder with Chance in tow.

“So whose scent was that?” the feline Hephzibah asks.

“Storm’s,” answers Chance “ Aun ... Hephzibah.”

“You have enhanced senses as well?” Asks Hephzibah as her tail swishes as a cat’s would.

“Smell, sight, and hearing.”

“What else?” asks Proudstar, now curious.

“A healing factor as well but I can do more when I transform,” Chance candidly says.

“Transform?”

“Yeah. I look like a feral elf wolf hybrid.”

“Maybe tomorrow we can see it in the danger room.”

“Okay by me James.”


Near the lake’s shore on the grounds Logan spies the owner of the alluring scent. She stands looking into the sky, her hands placed as if in prayer under her full lips. She looks to be lost in thought. (She is remembering what transpired between she and Logan the night before she left for Africa.*last chapter)

“Ya know ‘Ro if ya want ta be alone this isn’t the place to be.”

Ororo laughs slightly as she embraces herself. She peers over her shoulder looking in Logan’s direction. “I heard your argument with Charles this afternoon.”

“I figured since ya were on the Observation deck.”

“You knew?”

“I’ve always known ‘Ro.” Logan came to stand next to her near the shore, his hands placed in his jean pockets, his Stetson pushed up. “What’s wrong ‘Ro?”

“Besides Rogue hating me for leaving, everything with the Hulk, Charles’s involvement, the death of CAPTAIN AMERICA, the entire civil war, Gambit becoming a horseman?, I having to kill the imposter Thor that Tony Stark had cloned, and the death of Black Goliath,” A sigh escapes from her lips, “ I think T’Challa doesn’t really love me.”

“You love him?” Logan asks dreading the answer.

“I do love him Logan. Though it maybe for the wrong reasons.”

“Come on ‘Ro lets go to Harry’s. You sound like you need a night out with friends.” Logan extended his hand out waiting. Ororo smiled as she placed her hand in his. It felt good, almost natural for her.

“Lets.”


Harry’s is a bar in downtown Salem that has stood for one hundred years. It is a historical building that has had its share of owners over time as well as different cliental. Within the past twelve years it has become a regular spot for Xavier’s gifted. On any given night the pool is decent, the beer is good, and a few decent sport channels. Tonight Hephzibah, James Proudstar, and Chance Howlett sit at a booth in the corner near a pool table watching two other mutants play pool. The first mutant is Jack Michaels though many know him as REFLEX. Jack normally comes to Harry’s for the atmosphere and old times. He too was a student of Xavier’s in the early days. The man he plays pool with has changed over the years, but deep down underneath the blue fur and fangs, Henry McCoy is still the same. He will always be the ever-fun loving BEAST.

“14 side pocket off of the 11,” boasts Henry as he twirls the pool stick in his blue furred hand.

“Five says you miss when someone sneezes Hank,” Jack replied with a smirk. “Your already down by six balls and a game.”

“Is that concern I hear Jackie boy?” Hank teases as he takes aim, and . . .

“AACHOOOOOO!” The point scratched the table, the Q-ball rolls into the corner pocket, causing Hank to scratch. Hank looks over at the table where Proudstar, Hephzibah, and Chance sit. Hephzibah shrinks down as she sniffles…

“Sorry.”

“That’s five you owe me.” Jack smirks as he pats Hank on the back.

“You knew that was going to happen didn’t you?”

“I don’t have precognitive abilities Hank remember. Only post-cognitive, reincarnation sense, total recall, photo-graphic and auto-graphic memory as well as photo-graphic reflexes with a slight enhancement to my reflexes.”

“So how did you know that I would miss?” asks Hank as he was scratching the corner of his eye with a claw.

“Actually I didn’t know it was going to be Hephzibah over there. I figured the different smells and smoke in Harry’s, as well as the powder from the pool tables would make anyone with enhanced senses sneeze and hey look, there are four here….” Jack pauses for a moment as he spots two other customers and smirks…”Make those five mutants with enhanced senses.”

Hank, Proudstar, Hephzibah, and Chance look toward the door to see Logan escorting Ororo through the door. Hank motions to the two friends and colleagues, as Proudstar and the others make room. Ororo hugs Hank and Jack as she asks….

“How many games is Jack ahead of Hank?”

“About to be two.” Hank begrudgingly says as he hands Jack the pool stick.

“Four, right corner.” Smack the Q-ball hits the four. Crack. “Eight back left corner.”
Seconds later…

“Told you.” Jack says playfully boasting, “That’s seven million, two hundred fifty three thousand, seven hundred and one dollars you owe me Hank,” Jack laughs as he and Hank shake.

“Put it on my ever growing tab.”

“So Logan care to play?” asks Jack.

“No thanks bub, yer too good. Course it helps when you watch the billiards championships on ESPN.”

“I only did that once or twice.”

“Precisely. For you it takes only once.” Hank laughs as he sits down next to Chance.

“Tell you what Jack how ‘bout a drinking contest?” Logan calls for a beer. “I’ll even spot cha ten beers before ya start.”

“No thanks Logan. I remember what happened last time before I found out that you had a healing factor,” recalled Jack.

“Wolverine I know who might be able to give you a run,” states Hephzibah, “Chance here. He has a healing factor too.”

“So pup we share a last name and a healing factor. What else do we share?” Logan smirks only to catch a whiff of apprehension from Chance.

“Don’t know sir.”

“You don’t have to call me sir son. Logan is fine.”

“I was taught by my father to respect my elders,” Chance’s voice shows a familiar sarcastic tone that Ororo knows all to well and with the way he smirked as he said it, for a moment, he looked like Logan in the face with a mixture of someone else.

“So I’m yer elder am I?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t argue with that old friend,” Ororo laughs. Logan missed the way it sounded. To him it was how nature kissed the warm spring morning breezes.

After several games of pool with Logan and Hank playing against Proudstar and Chance, with Hephzibah, Jack and Ororo cutting up, it was last call. With as much that had happened within the last several months in all of their lives, it was good to just have fun.

“Okay let me get this right ‘Ro, you and the rest of the FF had to fight zombie versions of all us heroes.” Logan scratched his head as he listened to the slightly inebriated Ororo. “Then you four got bamfed to a gangster world where your husband stole my moves. Then transported back, all by a golden frog. Yeah I heard it all now.”

“I swear. It was like those awful movies Jubilee had us watch that one time. Who starred in them again?” Ororo tried to concentrate.

“It was Evil Dead 1, 2 and Army of Darkness with Bruce Campbell,” smirked Logan as he found it amusing that Ororo was actually slurring her words.

“Oh Goddess they were horrible. It was like a train wreck you just couldn’t stop watching.”

“Wait a minute those were classic movies,” popped Jack and Hank at the same time, both feeling the shots of jagermeister they had earlier with Proudstar. “Did you see him play in Xena?” Jack continued, “genius.”

“Yeah he’s also in that new show on the USA network.” Hank kind of giggled as he said it.

“Okay kiddies it’s time we all get going,” nudged Logan as he helped Ororo out of the booth. As he turned he saw Hephzibah passed out, leaning on Proudstar, who in turn was being held up by a sober Chance. “Hey kid you want to help get these light weights to the rover?”

“I don’t envy their headaches in the morning,” Chance says smugly, “Lucky tomorrow is Saturday.”

“You mean today.”

“Is it?” Hank butts in, “I’m supposed to be working on those genetic binomial gnomes.”

“Go figure, even drunk ol’ fur ball can still use those big words,” Logan says.

Several minutes later Chance and Logan carry Proudstar out from Harry’s and place him in the very back of the rover. Logan tosses the keys to Chance as he walks over to his bike. Chance looks at the keys oddly, wondering what to do with them as Logan speaks,

“Do ya know how to drive kid?”

“No not this vehicle.”

“It’s an automatic all ya have to do is brake, gas, steer.”

“I have a better idea.”

“What’s that kid, you gonna pick the rover up and play the Sentinel and fly?”

“Yes. But who’s the Sentinel?”

“Oh boy. What planet are you from kid?”

“It was an asteroid actually.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No not about that.”

“So how is it you have my last name then?”

“It’s my surname. As it was my father’s.”

“What?”

“Who’s your father kid?”

“In my universe you are.” With this Chance lifted the near two ton rover and takes to the air, leaving a perplexed James Logan Howlett standing in the parking lot.

“Great another kid. That’s all I need. I wonder how much child support I owe on him.”


Saturday afternoon at the School for gifted youngsters Ororo tiptoes into the kitchen, toward the refrigerator. She opened the door slowly, while trying to maintain her balance, her hang over playing with her equilibrium. As she pulled her head out of the cool fridge she notices Scott and Emma sitting at the island, both look as though the cat had just ate the canary.

“May I help you CYCLOPS and WHITE QUEEN?”

“No Ororo, just making sure you don’t fall down.” Scott spoke up, “So you went with Hank, Hephzibah, Jack, Proudstar, Logan and the new guy.”

“Yes I did. Though I do not know how I got back here or how I got changed into my gown.”

“You might want to ask your old friend about that Ororo,” smugly answers Emma.


The Danger Room . . .

Two people stand in the middle of the depowered danger room; one is Logan the Wolverine dressed in street clothes the other Chance Howlett, wearing a black and yellow version of an original x-man uniform.

“Okay kid, let’s see what ya got.” Logan looks to the control room, “Okay Drake turn her up to my level. Program Theda002.”

“Are you sure Logan, I mean your simulations are killers literally.” Responds Bobby Drake the ICEMAN.

“Yeah.”

The environment changes around the two, shaping from the cold metal walls and floor into a war zone. The area looks to be a lifeless wasteland, red dust covering the sky, the sun dimly shining through the dense cloud cover.

The ground rumbles, the heavens burst into flames as three fireballs hurl themselves toward the two.

“Lets see what cha got kid. I figured since you were born on an asteroid you’d like to play with the imperial guard.”

“How many of them?”

“All of ‘em.”

“Easy,” Chance replies as he growls. His form begins to change, claws and fangs grow, he grows an extra foot in height, ripping his uniform, his ears grow and extend much like the elves on world of war craft, his body hair grows long, covering him in an orange shaggy fur, his face contorts. The transformation is accompanied by a kinetic burst. The entire thing takes only two seconds, but to see it for the first time it seemed to Logan to take hours.

Chance then is surrounded with an energy sheath, his eyes glow a brilliant blue halo. He takes to the air, his first target the GLADIATOR. The combat is over in seconds, with Chance ripping through the alien guardsmen. It all takes minutes, with Chance destroying eighteen guardsmen and Logan taking down two. He watches Chance land with a toothy smirk on his face.

“I told you easy.”

“What is it that you do?”

“I can tap into the extra dimensional realm of hyperspace and the forces within it.”

“Yeah that explains it.”

“LOGAN I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU NOW!!!!!” exclaims an upset Ororo Monroe-Challa from the observation room.

“Oh hell sounds like mom is pissed.”

“I can handle her kid.” Logan pauses for a second as the words Chance said sank in. “Mom?”

“LOGAN!” Ororo storms into the danger room, her eyes glowing with the raw energy she can command at a moment’s notice. “HOW DARE YOU UNDRESS ME I AM A MARRIED WO…” In mid outburst Logan grabs Ororo and kisses her with more passion than Ororo has felt in a long time. Her heart races, her mind calms as she losses all thought. After a moment Logan releases Ororo from the kiss and says the following,

“You vomited all over your clothes darling, so I changed you. If I over stepped any new boundaries I am sorry.” Then he walks away, out of the danger room leaving a stunned Ororo and a bewildered Chance standing alone.

“I’m glad we straightened that out.” Ororo replies touching her lips.
Death's end by Stormcrow
In a place under the big apple where few know and many have forgotten, where tunnels wind and twist, walks a man whose hair is worn like a dark mane. His wild eyes and animalistic persona make him out to be savage and that would not be far from the truth. Over the last hundred or so years he has seen war, death, famine and pestilence literally as an X-Man and figuratively as a man with a healing factor and long life. His name is Logan but the world knows him as WOLVERINE. Today though he is just a man entering into tunnels long forgotten that is home for the down trodden and forsaken. In his hand he carries two grocery bags of food and simple pharmaceutical drugs like aspirin and cold medicine. Logan walks toward a man named John who had been only one thing in his life, a soldier. He wasn’t just a soldier, he was special forces; a Green Beret assigned to the 7th SFG out of Fort Bragg. John saw a lot of action, killed many people including women and children. After he did his time in the service, he left, though could not adapt to the outside life and lost his way. This former soldier lives here under the ground away from the light of civilization as penance for his sins.
It is here he acts as mediator and leader of the other people who are the forgotten and forsaken of society. Logan knows how John feels, it was here not to long ago that this man named John helped Logan by just being a friend. Logan now comes here once a week or when he can to give John food and supplies, in return John gives the medicine and most of the food to the other fringe dwellers.

“Hello Logan how are you?” Asks John, his gruff voice low and slightly graveled.

“Can’t complain John. And you?” Logan returns the feeling of friendship with a warm hand shake.

“You mean you could complain but no one would listen right,” smiles John happy to see his friend from the outside.

“Sorry I haven’t been here in a few weeks, I’ve been with a few of my associates saving the world from ourselves and other things.”

“I figured. I heard about the Hulk taking revenge on the other so called heroes.” John turned and motions Logan to follow him back to his place, a meager shack only a few feet from them. “Let’s go inside for a spell, and you talk a little while if you’d like.”

“Why is it you always ask me to talk if I want John?” Logan smirks “You writing my memoirs or something?”

“Yeah that’s the plan, so I can get rich and leave this place.” John replies with a sarcastically playful laugh.

“Maybe another time. I’ve got a friend of mine who wants to check out those tunnels outside of the zone, but I don’t want him to get lost. You think you can help him out alittle?”

“As long as its not that bald guy, Xavier. I’m not to fond of him.”

“Neither is our fearless leader Cyke right now. Can’t say I am either.”

“You mean Cyke grew a pair.”

“Yeah a pair of solid steel ones. Guess he got tired of the ribbing I gave him.”

“That’s funny old friend.” Replies John as he picks up a magazine with a picture of CAPTAIN AMERICA on the cover. “Going to miss him. He was a good man.”

“That he was.”

“Tell you friend he can come down. I’ll show him. What’s his name anyway?”

“His name is Jack. He was a solider like you and me, even served with the 101st.”

“Well I doubt we were anything like you Logan.”

“John you were a good solider and are a good man. Don’t ever forget that.”


Above in the daylight of the concrete jungle that is New York two men stand just outside the opening of the tunnel leading into the under city. Logan left thirty minutes ago leaving Jack Michaels the man known as REFLEX and Chance Howlett in this spot. Jack has been working on a case of a dead body found in a maintenance tunnel; the rats mostly destroyed the body. He was called in because the skeleton had a faint glow to it and the DNA registered as having the mutant gene, making it an XSE matter. Jack had scanned the remains post mortem using his post-cognitive abilities and found out that who ever it was had died in a chamber, not where they were found. He needed a guide through those endless tunnels and Logan had told him of a man who could possibly help.

His name is John and he has lived down below away from society for over ten years. What Jack had gleamed from Logan was that John was making up for those he killed by living down there. In that place John was the leader of the homeless, settling disputes and acting like a mayor so to speak. Chance had decided to come along to look at the sights so to speak.

“You know Logan told me about that little incident in the danger room a couple of days back.” Jack candidly says looking into the shadows of the tunnel, “You think it was wise to tell him you are his son from a parallel reality?”

“Did he tell you that he also kissed Mo…Ororo as well?”

“Actually Ororo told me that, before she left to meet her husband T’Challa at the air field.”

“I didn’t think the old man had it in him.”

“Ororo thought it was just to shut her up. I have a feeling that was all it may have been. That and to get her goat alittle. Seriously though I think it was the wrong move to tell Logan you are his kid.”

“Technically I’m not his kid. I’m from another reality.”

“Which leads to my next question kiddo.” Jack pauses for a moment, “ Why are you here?”

“To stop someone.”

“Who?”

“Remy LeBeau and his team of Marauders.”

“Again why?”

“I can’t say right now Jack. I wish I could, but I can’t.”

“Does it have to do with your mom or pop?”

“Yes and no. That’s all I can say Jack. Please drop it.”

“You know Cyke is placing a wet works team together under Logan’s command. Calling them X-Force.”

“Really. Whose going to be on it?”

“Logan is going to have Warpath, Hepzibah, Wolvesbane, X23, and Myself. He asked me about it this morning during our sparing match.”

“Dad talks to you a lot doesn’t he?”

“Not as much as you think kiddo.”

“Well I’m getting tired standing around here, I’m going to look around awhile. Catch the sights if you get my drift.”

“Stay safe kid.”


Ororo stands near the lake in the shadow of the big house, watching the wind dance with the falling leaves when she feels the touch of her husband’s hand on her shoulder.

“Are you all right Ororo?”

“Just did not realize how much I missed this place my love.” Her heart is saddened at what she has missed by her absence. She knows why she left the mansion and the X-Men all those months ago and why she accepted T’Challa’s marriage proposal. She does love him, but she normally would never have rushed into anything such as this. She needed stability and Panther gives her that. He is a safe bet, which is what Gambit would have said. She can grow old with him. That is where she stops her train of thought. She knows Logan ages so much slower that normal and he would still have probably looked as he does now while she would be old and shriveled. No matter what the heart may wish the mind will always want to be safe.

T’Challa knows what the X-Men have meant to his beloved wife and after their short stint with the Fantastic Four, planet hopping, and running into the Psycho-Man he realized she needed to come home for a visit. He understood the under tones of her ties and those she deemed important with what they said. Logan for one, he has always been close with Ororo, even going as far as to throw a bachelor party for T’Challa when both Wolverine and the Black Panther don’t really get along. Was there something between his STORM and the X-Men’s Wolverine? He may never truly know but that does not concern him right now, Charles Xavier does. With his dealings with Charles Xavier in the Illuminati T’Challa learned what the X-Men meant to the aged telepath. They were in the beginning a way to an end, to show the world mutants could exist along side normal humans. Through the years though they became more than just that means, they became his family. Charles saw the potential for soldiers in many, killers in a few. He trained each member and tried to help a few with their control issues when it benefited him. Xavier sees himself as a savior and that can blind a man to the truth of the matter. Cyclops sees that now and has effectively stood his ground, becoming the leader he should have been years ago but never did out of fear. Charles Xavier allowed the romance between Jean Grey and Scott Summers to control Scott, making him more passive aggressive. He also knew of Sinister’s genetic experiment and was curious as well. Everything in Xavier’s life had a plan much like the would be saviors like Magneto, Doom, Tony Stark, and even Reed Richards.

“If I remember right this is a new mansion. The old one was destroyed and this one was built closer to the lake.” T’Challa answers, He had a subtle way about how he asked or implied things.

“You know what I meant love. I missed my family, though Rogue, before she was hurt did not seem to enjoy that sentiment.”

“Harmoney is not always present in all families Ororo.”

“So says the King of Wakanda to his Queen. Have you ever wondered about children My Love?”

“I have. Who else would carry on the Panther mantle and my name?”

“Yet you never discussed it with me. Why?”

“I wanted to know your feelings on that particular subject before I suggested it. That and with all of our recent activities it did not seem appropriate. We have only been married for six months and wanted to give us time.”

“An answer for every thing my love.”

“Why do you ask about children, do you want them sooner than later?”

“No not right now. I just wanted to know your thoughts on the subject. Though it does not mean we should not try more often.”

T’Challa smirks slightly and is about to say something when they are both interrupted by the self styled White Queen.

“Did I interrupt anything?”

“No Ms. Frost we were just talking.” T’Challa answers, watching his wife’s body language for the slight changes of stress.

“Scott and I were about to have breakfast, would you care to join us. Logan, Jack and Chance left early this morning, Henry and Robert are in the danger room. And I do so miss having a woman around that I enjoy speaking with.”

“We will be in shortly Emma.” Ororo replies, one could not see the cold demeanor through Ororo’s trained facade if one did not know what to look for.

“I’ll tell Scott to set two more places then.” Emma turns then looks over her shoulder slightly “Subtle Storm, like a hurricane. A man should know the cravings of his lover or wife. I have missed you.”

T’Challa looks down trying to hid his smile at Emma Frost’s last comment as his wife’s eyes flash with lightning.

“Its good to be home.” Ororo replies.





The tunnels under New York are in a sense another city. With all of the electrical, maintenance, sewers ad old water tunnels that stretch for hundreds of miles one could become lost never find their way out. That is why Jack needed a guide. At times like this Jack missed New Orleans and its back water ways. He hated coming down into these tunnels, void of feeling though rich in history. John, his guide on this trek, lived here with the forgotten and the forsaken. John lead Jack to where the body was found and from there Jack described the area where the actual death occurred. From his description, John had an idea of the general area. It only took them thirty minutes to find the old chamber and another few minutes to discover a hidden chamber filled with laboratory equipment.
“Oh look we found a mad scientist’s lair.” Says Jack toward John, “Lets see who it belonged too.”

Jack touches the equipment and allows his post-cognitive abilities to do the rest. For moments in time he sees shadows and figures, not able to make them out until he gets two reflections. One is a pale, ghostly face with a sinister grin and red eyes. “SINISTER”

The scene transforms into a confrontation and the other person killing Sinister. Jack tries to focus more on this ghost and as he finally sees the figures face he cuts the image…
“Oh God it can’t be.”

“Who?” asks his guide as they both hear a voice from behind them.

“Yes it can.”

“You!”

Then the world becomes a searing light of energy and flame. Jack’s eyes feel as though they are burned from with in. It is quick and painless, over in seconds. The laboratory is incinerated as is Jack Michaels and John the Homeless guide.




“I no longer feel Refle-X’s mind.” Her mind touches Cerebra once more as it touches the astral realm. She whispers through the Ether, calling to the mind she no longer sees. There is only three reasons how a mind becomes lost to her in this place. The first is that someone or something is shielding said mind. The second is that the mind left this dimension entirely, or the third reason is that the person is now dead. Cerebra did not detect a power flux or influx of energy.

“Can it be interference?” Scott asks already knowing the answer.

“He’s dead Scott.”

Cyclops walks out of the secured vault that is Cerebra into the cold sterile steel halls that make up the lower sublevels of the Xavier institute. Right now outside the O.N.E. monitor the grounds, keeping an eye on the last few mutants on Earth. The world is becoming the dark place of fear that the X-Men have fought to try and over come. The dream is over that the Professor had envisioned now is the time to take fight back. Years ago the children of the atom fought against the mutant registration act, yet that was nothing compared to Tony Stark’s Superhuman registration act. The Civil War made many choose sides from his own family. He has lost to much and Reflex, Jack Michaels, was the last. He enters the elevator only to run into Storm and her husband T’Challa; the Black Panther. Storm joined the X-Men to help Xavier’s original Team with Piotr, Kurt, John Proudstar, Sean, Sunfire, and Logan. She was the one who could control Logan’s feral instincts, his driven animalistic fury. Logan chased Jean and that brought Scott into the line of fire, yet it was Ororo that calmed the Wolverine.

Without her Wolverine has become more feral, he has reverted back into the killing machine that he was before the X-Men. Ororo is like the feral Wolverine; both forces of nature, uncontrolled, unleashed, raw power. So why did she run away and become the wife of a man who she had not seen in ten years?

“Storm, T’Challa.”

“Scott. Is everything alright?” Storm asks her friend as she notices the body language of the man called Cyclops.

“Jack is dead.”

“Are you sure?”

“I was going to send some of X-Force to make sure.”

“T’Challa and I will go Scott.”

“I need Wolverine to go as well Storm. No offense T’Challa but Logan is the leader of X_Force and Reflex was one of his.” Cyclops remarks.

“None taken Scott. He has abilities that can be essential.” Offers T’Challa as he holds Ororo’s hand.
What chances may come by Stormcrow
A figure opens the door to the room that the mutant Chance Howlett inhabits presently looking around. The black ominious figure spots a journal laying on a table and begins to read the only entry.

“Who am I? At one time, I could have told you, now I can’t. I am misplaced in time and it appears that I am misplaced in dimensions as well. In my time, my world my father was Logan the Wiendigo, my mother was Ororo Monroe formerly Storm of the X-Men and Starjammers later the star-spanning Phoenix-Storm.”

“Here in this world they still are with the X-Men, while Alex Summers and Lorna Dane joined the Star-Jammers. Worse still Logan and Ororo are moving along two different lines in their lives. They hardly speak to each other due to one being an outlaw Avenger and leader of X-Force while the other is Queen of Wakanda. I’m not here though to create the circumstances to which my sister and I can be born. I’m here to stop something else, something that in my time-line and dimension was never caught until it was too late. Here now some know and wish to stop it, partly due to the fact that Logan was impersonated by one of those things while he was manipulated to be come the horseman Death.”

“On this world there is a group of humans who were injected with the Skrull genome. They were test subjects of the Skrull but escaped. They now hunt and kill those that are on Earth. Somehow, they are able to sense Skrulls and they use that to their advantage. Unfortunately, they vanished from the radar several months ago without a trace. The theory in my time-line is that Skrulls can sense each other no matter what form they happen to be in. That also includes half-blooded Skrulls. Which leads me to the kid called Hulkling, a Kree-Skrull half-breed and a so-called young Avenger. Who in this world hasn’t been an Avenger?”

“The Skrulls invaded Earth thanks to Remy Lebeau and with his help killed the X-Men, impersonating them using the same technology that bestowed their Patriot Super-Skrull with his powers. Lebeau secretly infiltrated the X-Men on behalf of Nathan Essex the man known as Sinister than betrayed his master in favor of the Skrulls. Once they were able to kill the other heroes and impersonated them declared a Civil War on the other heroes, manipulating the situation from behind the scenes. From there they took over both the Shi’ar and the Kree Empires. They killed my family and destroyed the Andromeda galaxy by imploding the super black hole with the help of the M’Cron crystal and the siphoned energies of my mother. I tried to absorb the energy released from the implosion but I couldn’t and the energies I did absorb mutated me to the state I am in now.”

“Who am I you ask? My name is Chance Logan Howlett and I am the only hope this world has. I just hope that I can find Remy Lebeau and find out if he is the same as in my world. That and I hope Nathanal Richards hasn’t been able to trace my departure from our dimension. If he has than this world will see a battle like no other, like I have nothing else to worry about.”

The figure closes the journal and smiles as the man’s skin changes and his ears elongate. His body shifts into it’s true form revealing a form of a Skrull…

“It is too late human. We are already here. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”




A figure walks through the darkened evening woods of the Xavier Institute silently, majestically, and purposefully. Her cameral, Nubian skin mixing with the moving shadows as she continues with purpose. She is here to see an old friend and his protégé the enigmatic X-23, genetically she is his daughter as in soul. She knows they can sense her even though she has manipulates the wind ever so slightly to mask her scent and the noise she could make. She allows the wind to carry their words to her, almost like a listening device.

“Why do we hunt the deer Logan if we are not to kill it?”

Ororo smiles ever so slightly as she remembers the past with a similar situation and Logan’s words.

“Look Kid its not about killin the deer, its about gett’n close enough to touch it. Anyone can kill but it takes skill to sneak up without bein seen or sensed.”

Ororo remembers how she misjudged the man as an animal and she never apologized for that. With Logan you never had to.

“So is the wind goddess gonna stay aloft or is she goin to come ta earth with the rest of the lowly subjects.”

Ororo smiles as she reveals herself from the shadows.

“Child I am no goddess just a queen.” Ororo’s mood whimsical, her eyes showing splendid happiness.

“Not of me.” X-23 replies deviant as her father genetic father can be. If they had children, she would have wanted a daughter like X-23; strong-willed, intelligent, powerful, and magnificent like her father.

“Listen over kid, hit the showers.” Logan says as he removes his black and silver mask.

Playfully flirting, Ororo comments, “I like the new uniform Logan. You have always been one for fashion.”

“Yeah like I’m the one who needs to hit the showers.” X-23 comments as she disappears into the woods.
Chance encounters by Stormcrow
Chance Encounters….

The tunnels under New York City vary in length and depth, dug over the last two hundred years. These endless tunnels stretch over hundreds of miles and are called home by rats, other animals, and the forgotten of society. It is also a place where a friend recently died and three people have come here to investigate. They are WOLVERINE, STORM, and the BLACK PANTHER. It was here in this room deep under New York where Jack Michaels also known as Refle-X was killed.

“I’m gett’n conflict’n scents here ‘Ro.” Logan replies dressed in his black and silver X-Force uniform. It’s eyes glowing red, leaving an onlooker uneasy.

“What do you mean old friend?” Asks Ororo as she walks the room. Her husband scanning the area with his technology.

“The scents change. What I do know is an extremely high energy field was here.”

“I’m getting an energy signature that belongs in the range of a cosmic powered being.”
T’Challa says as he reads his scanner.

“How many of those do we know though just between we three?” Responds Ororo as she looks at the dried husk of none other than what appears to be MR. SINISTER.

“Chances are who else knew Jack was here.” Logan answers creating a pun with his supposed son’s name.

“That was creative Wolverine.” T’Challa has a slight smirk under his mask, as he responds to the joke.

“How do you know it was him Wolverine?” Ororo’s voice has a slight emotional twang to it. Both Logan and T’Challa catch it.


The man’s name is Remy Lebeau better known to the world as Gambit. Once he was a thief, an X-Man, a horseman of Apocalypse, and a Marauder. He has faced many foes in his life but none like this. This man seems to know more about him than many others, and worse he can easily track the elusive cajun.

“Who are ya Mon Ami?’ Gambit asks his foe as he narrowly dodges a cosmically enhanced energy blast.

“Rembrandt make it easier on yourself. Death comes for you.” Chance replies as he smirks…”Sorry about the bad pun old man.”

“Sorry bout dis boy.” Remy throws a kinetically charged blast at his opponent only to see it dissipates as it nears the man named Chance, the cosmically enhanced mutant son of Logan and Storm.

“Great another energy absorber. As if Bishop was not enough.” Gambit then begins to throw more bolts of kinetic fire, though not at his foe but toward the ceiling above.

As the debris falls down, its target seems to vanish and Gambit appears in his place. The wieght of the ceiling collapses upon a shocked Gambit. “NNNNNOOOOOO!!!!”

Chance turns around toward the scream to see Rogue charging him. She comments to this flying charge only to see her target seemingly disappear. In reality, though Chance moves at such a high velocity that it only appears he teleports. She feels a hand grab hold of her ankle as her momentum is changed in mid air. She is flung effortlessly through a wall and before she can recover, she feels an incredible impact as she changes direction again. She is dazed, hardly able to understand where she is or can place a coherent thought before she feels another impact much like what the Hulk could do. After this second one, she only knows the blackness of the unconscious mind.

Chance looks back to see Gambit barely alive under the rubble. He walks over to his fallen opponent and opens his hand, than an energy blast is released. Gambit is vaporized instantly, leaving a blast mark and melted stone.

“Who are you?” Asks the burning plasma furnance called Sunfire.

“I was wondering why you didn’t join the battle Sunfire.”

“Who are you?”

“Chance Howlett.”

“Why did you kill Gambit but not Rogue?”

“He was not who he appeared to be.”

"What?"

"As are you." Chance releases an energy blast that completely disintagrates the man called Sunfire.

************
Inevitable chances by Stormcrow
{He is just a man} Logan tells himself. {Given a cosmically enhanced, blow the Earth up, Hi Galactas whose your daddy kind of man but still a man.} The feral mutant named James Logan Howlett who the world calls WOLVERINE faces his son. A son from a possible future or another timeline who knew for sure. Logan stood only thirty feet away from Chance while the BLACK PANTHER's corpse lay between them. To Chance's left was the charred, unrecognizable body of the woman the world knew as STORM; hero to some, queen to others, terrorist to a few but to Logan she was 'Ro. The battlefield had its casualties with the bodies of Pym, Tigra, Bishop, Xavier, and many others that were family.

Wolverine lunges, pouncing the distance in nearly one fluid leap with his team of X-FORCE right behind him. ARCHANGEL, the former horseman of Apocalypse, lets loose his wing blades of sharpened death toward his target. WARPATH, the Navajo mutant warrior, wields his two Adamantine bowie knives screaming a war cry much like his ancestors. DOMINO, former mercenary for hire, fires blast after blast from her gauze weapon. The closest thing to a daughter to wolverine by genetics, X-23 leaps high, her foot claws extended. WOLFSBANE, the Scottish banshee she-wolf, roars with fangs bared and claws gleaming as she two leaps to her prey.
"Get a switch son!" Yells the beast unleashed named Wolverine, "'Cause someone is gonna get a whoop'n!"

(Flashback)**************************************

12 hours ago.........
The body of SUNFIRE burns hot with plasma normally but not even his mutant body can withstand the force of a blue/white star. His body disintegrates, becoming so much fine ash. His killer standing only a few feet away. His name is Chance, a mutant from another Earth, another time, another galaxy entirely. Where he is from he had an older sister named Kendal, a mother named Ororo, a father only called Logan and an extended family of outer space pirates and free-runners called the SPELLJAMMERS. He was a mutant who could absorb all forms of energy and whose very power pulsed upon the universe's blood flow. He was the holder of the POWER PRIMORDIAL, an energy that was the beginning and the end of an entire universe. The power primordial is the cosmic/nuclear/magical forces released as the largest explosion ever thought of happened, the big bang. It was the creator of life, the bringer of death, more power than the infinitesimal amount of suns seen or known. As he grew up his father taught him how to harness his mutant abilities along with his Uncle Chuck. It was hard for him due to the fact that if he ever let loose with an emotional response he could potential destroy not only planets but entire solar systems. His power was kept in check due to an implant that was surgically placed into his brain by advance alien technology that regulates his emotional control.

Chance walks over to the unconscious ROGUE and picks her up carefully then disappears with no energy flash or puff of smoke as other teleporters do. In reality his power was explained to him as control over sub-atomic particles and all the fundamental forces of the universe. How does a twelve year old wrap that around his head? Now though it didn't matter he had to stop the coming tide anyway he could. If he didn't this world and the universe would suffer what his home did.

"Wake up Marie." is the only thing the mutant Rogue can remember as she began to resister her conscious mind awakening. The second thing was the pain she felt as her head pounded. The third was that she was contained and unable to move.

"Ah hate when this happens." She states in her atypical southern drawl. "You'd think every villain has a fetish or something."

"I'm not a villain Marie just someone who is willing to have the ends justify the means." Chance answers. "Though I do admit I enjoy a woman whose bound as much as the next man."

"Typical." is the only thing Rogue says.

"I'm not going to tell you Marie why I'm doing this. The chances that you'd believe me are outrageously small even for one such as you. Instead I'll let you see the reasons yourself." With this said Chance touches Rogue's bare skin with his own.

CONTACT......

Rogue's powers are tactile based giving her access to other peoples thoughts and abilities. To do this it is theorized that she can access the mind through a form of tactile telepathic assault that happens so fast she isn't aware of it. It was also theorized that if a mind could be shielded from this effect that Rogue could not absorb those abilities or memories. It is known though however that more powerful beings that are so-called cosmically enhanced such as Norin Radd, known as the Silver Surfer, are not affected but Rogue's power. Another supporting fact to this theory is the enhanced psi-screens that Rogue possesses naturally to safe guard her own personality against the absorbed personas she steals. Though again significantly strong willed beings can overcome these psi-screens; case in point Ms. Marvel.

If someone could shield their mind they could touch Rogue and she could feel their embrace and love. This is the burden of Rogue, her curse that is her gift. All powerful beings have some type of drawback, this is hers. Chance though can screen his mind and allows only the memories to pass to Rogue, showing her an entire other universe where Logan and Storm left the X-Men when Xavier left with his lover Llandria to the stars. Where Logan become leader of the Spelljammers and husband to Ororo Monroe. A universe where Jean Grey did not gain the power of the Phoenix but Nightcrawler did. Where the force of all unborn life called the Phoenix bounded to Ororo Monroe to become the being known as PHOENIX-STORM. Logan and she were proud parents and intimate lovers. They had three children, Kendra; named after the place in Africa Ororo so loved, Chance; named due to the fact his parents took a chance on their love, and Laura; the little girl with daddy's claws and her mother's beauty. She sees the life of burden and of triumph, of failure and hope, of lost and found. That was until the dark shadow from Earth appeared and the race called the SKRULLS conquered all with enhanced powers. They conquered not through sheer force but through subtlety. The captured those beings of Earth that had the most sway and influence turning the tide so to speak.

The Skrulls once were three distinct races like that of man kind of Earth. They had Normal Skrulls, Skrull eternals and Skrull Deviants like that of Earth. Here the Normal strain of humanity become the most abundant and from them the spawn of mutants and non-mutants emerged. This was due to a few reasons. The Eternals did not quickly spawn because of their ability to live for long periods of time. The Deviants' own physical mutations were too unstable due to the already preternatural ability for the human code to mutate causing horrific and dysfunctional genetic abnormalities within them. Causing no offspring to be like the parents, never sharing a single genetic trait. On the Skrull home world though the Deviant branch had stability due to the reptilian genetic makeup and the ability not to mutate as did the human g-nome. Thus the Deviant branch had stable mutations creating the ability to shape shift and easily infiltrating the other branches of the Skrull race and wiping them out, thus becoming dominant.
With the successful Skrull invasion of Earth the reptilian shape-shifting race added the ability to gain human mutation under controlled conditions and thus were able to infiltrate the Shi'ar empire and it was not until it was too late that it was discovered. In three galaxies the Skrulls become dominate and with each successful domination a new g-nome was added to the Skrull race thinks mainly to the human g-nome sequence for mutation. Chance witnessed the deaths of his family and the SpellJammers, the galaxy cried out with him. The Skrull then conquered the Watchers and took with them the secrets of technology to rival any known. With this they created an energy wave that undid all of creation in a given area, reducing everything; matter, energy, dark matter, dark energy into null space. Nothing was there not even a single subatomic particle.

Chance fought the Skrull along with his mother and Father though in the end it was Ororo who tried to absorb the Null Wave and ended up increasing the power of the wave exponentially a million fold. The wave undid all of creation as it continued, eventually unmaking everything it came across. It continued to expand and Chance could not stop it, no one could not even the cosmic beings such as Lord Order and Master Chaos or Galactus. It began on Earth, his universe's Earth and it appears here it will start anew. The Skrull race could not only shape-shift, they can control their sub-atomic particles down to the point they could change their chemical and biological make-up. They are undetectable, save by one or two ways. Chance can see what is and what can't be. He sees fluxes and fixed points within the energy matrix of the universe. He sees the universal truth in everything and hears the first language of the universe. In the back of his mind he always hears the great song of all life and all that it embraces. He is more than the Phoenix Force which is an immortal and mutable manifestation of the prime universal force of life and passion. Born of the void between states of being, the Phoenix Force is a child of the universe. The Phoenix Force is described as being "the embodiment of the very passion of Creation “ the spark that gave life to the Universe, the flame that will ultimately consume it." Chance is the child of said manifestation, given life and purpose by his father and mother; James Logan Howlett and Ororo Monroe-Howlett. He will not fail them again.
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"Are you saying Chance did this Logan?" Ororo asks, her fears becoming manifest.

"I have another scent but can't make it out." replies Logan as he continues to try to gather the information his heightened senses are telling him. The problem is that the sewers didn't help. Best way to foul up a tracker is to make it so his senses are in overdrive and he has to try and control them. The sensory overload is brutal.

"He must be stopped Ororo. He is not your son." Panther finally states, " He is another Ororo's child."

"You are right my love he is not my child." Ororo answers. Her emotions again becoming controlled.

{No he's not though he could have been.} Thinks Logan silently as he recalls other powerful mutants. In many alternate futures where children of great power were born, they all became mad. Jonathan Reed Richards was one of these children born from Franklin Richards and Rachael Summers. Franklin Richards being another. Even a few in the present such as Apocalypse himself, Proteus or Xavier's son Legion.

"Too many of us of died already and it must be stopped." The Black Panther adds as he continues to scan the area with his device. "We live in paranoid times, caused by our own doing at times such as the Civil War of superhuman community, the House of M crisis, the Secret Wars, and other such strife's. When people become paranoid the plans of the best intentioned people become lost and destroyed. If we continue to overload the system, said system will crash collapsing everything a race could hold dear. In the end it would be easy for a New World Order to appear and conquer the already conquerable."

"You're starting ta sound like a conspiracist Panther." Logan smirks, " Welcome ta the dark side we have cookies bub."

"Wolverine when did you develop a since of humor?" Panther asks.

"About the time when I lost who I was fer awhile." Logan states as he looks over to Ororo.

"We need the Avengers as well as the X-teams." Ororo says, "Chance is too powerful for anyone of us."
Chance encounters by Stormcrow
Author's Notes:
the next chapter in the story. I do not own them nor claim to.
"Who killed Jack Michaels?" She asked her capture. She could not clearly see anymore as her head swirled with images from Chance's past. Her name is Anne Marie but to the world she is simply ROGUE.
"Your lover and Sunfire. They are now horsemen of Apocalypse as Death and War, though you already knew this. " Answered the voice that seems so distant to her now.
"What did you do to me Chance?" Rogue asked as she tried to focus her thoughts.
"You looked into the mind of a child of creation itself and all though I placed shields around most of my mind so you could not absorb too much your mind was overloaded. As for your next question Anne Marie the reason I killed them was because Reflex was my friend and anyone who harms my friends or family will die." Chance responded as he stood over by a computer terminal. Rogue's mind began to clear as she began to recognize where she was. There they were in the medical wing of the lower levels of the X-Mansion with people almost frozen in place. She saw Hank looking over at a microscope, Elixir sat on a table near her.
"What did you do to them?"
"I did nothing to them Marie. I simply changed the frequency of our molecular structure to become out of synch with those around us by a variance of point zero one three."
"You can do that?"
"I couldn't until I tried to absorb the null wave. It altered me in ways I or anyone else could not fathom."
"What happened after you tried to absorb the wave? In the memory when Ororo tried she was destroyed."
"I was able to reconstruct myself by pure will power. Something my father had plenty of. I guess I inherited it."
"That wolf-man form you did in the danger room; What was it?"
"When I reintegrated that was the form I possessed until I learned to reform myself. I normally wear a prohibitor to help with the energy build up but it was damaged through the void."
"What is the void?"
"It was known to the Eternals as "'the Howling", and to others as "Hell" or the "Deep Darkness". The Void has no 'up' or 'down', but the universes within it are 'stacked' on top of each other. Even "time" in most senses, doesn't actually exist there. It is not limbo but an entirely different thing entirely. To travel through it as I did is more than dangerous than just opening a wormhole to another dimension. I punched a hole through the fabric like a plate glass window. The fabric may not hold together but I had to come here to try and do what I failed to do in my world, my galaxy, my universe. When I leave you here the frequency warp effect will fade and you will become in sync with normal spacial parameters. "

Eleven Hours later T'Challa and his wife Ororo Monroe both known to the world as BLACK PANTHER and STORM stand in the Wakanian embassy in New York within a room marked Security. Wakandan technology permeates through the embassy advanced beyond most on Earth itself. Panther stands in front of a massive super computer but it's not a something one would or could imagine. He stands in front of an interactive holo-image pushing the buttons and tapping the screens of the display. Wolverine stands in the back ground as he watches Ororo place her hand on her husband's shoulder and a low growl escapes from his throat.

"I'm goin in the other room ta set a battle plan with the others." Logan says as he walks out.

"He is in love with you Ororo." T'Challa responds as the man-animal known as Wolverine walks out and the sound proof door closes.

"No he is in love with the other, not I my love."

Meanwhile across the city nearing the Four Freedom's Plaza a hero flies through the wall and into the street. His name was the SENTRY but now he lays dead upon the pavement, dead before he hit the ground. His mind was destroyed atom by atom by a telepathic assault like no other. The one responsible for it stands upon the top of said building....Chance. The battle lasted five minutes with what was the Sentry dying from a massive hemorrhage caused by Chance. The Sentry's abilities derive from an experimental serum that created a phase-shift in his molecules, causing each atom to step an instant ahead of the current time line. The serum induced a photosynthetic reaction, resulting in a hyper state of consciousness. His powers are near limitless and Chance knows he has not killed this man, this being of near infinite power. It is theorized that after he ingested the serum his mind was able to reach out into the macroverse of the BEYONDERS and absorb the energy that infuses a Cosmic Cube. He has the psionic ability to manipulate all forms of matter on a subatomic level, and to manipulate all known forms of energy and to convert matter into energy or energy into matter. He can use his power to reconfigure all forms of matter into different substances and forms and can change matter to energy and back again. Though at this point in time has demonstrated the ability to recreate himself after bodily destruction, has superhumanly acute senses, has been shown to lift a Helicarrier; effortlessly defeat and break the Handle of the axe of Terrax, and supposedly fight Galactus to a standstill. He can emit light, which can be used for a pacifying effect, and possesses tremendous energy projection, capable of harming even the Hulk, who has withstood the equivalent of solar flares unharmed. Chance knew also that within the Sentry also lay the VOID. It has been claimed that for every benevolent act the Sentry performs, the Void corresponds with attempting an act of malevolence. The Void possesses the ability to shape-shift, and through its control over the weather and darkness it can create destructive storms and deadly "infini-tendrils" that attack the mind. Victims impaled on the tendrils experience traumatic visions of the past, present, and future. Its regular appearance varies between a shadowy, trench coat-wearing villain to a massive hurricane of darkness. It can also assume powers dependent on shape, like a flame form that breathes fire, alternately an armored monster with super strength and toughness. It is at its strongest during the night and in the Negative Zone.
Before the VOID can awaken though Chance had cut off the power that feeds the Sentry like cutting the cord of a new born away from his or her mother. Chance can see the universe and all of its power via lines and strains of force, light, and energy. It is how he plans on finding and destroying the SKRULLS but until now he could not access this ability. While traveling through the nothingness of the layers between the Multiverses Chance was weakened to nearly everything he had. If it was not for his will he would have perished. It was not until he fought the Sentry was Chance able to access this ability. With it he sealed the energy granting the Sentry his abilities and killed him. In his Universe the Void was part of the weapon that created the null wave after the SKRULL entered and conquered the Negative Zone.
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Within deep space at the edge of the Negative Zone orbits an asteroid size ship of Skrull design around a brown dwarf. This station is a prison colony called Dragus Epsul and it is here that a strange thing has happened. In this facility are a cast of Earthlings, and many others known throughout the galaxy. Most people here were ordinary with great influence and others possessed super human powers. It is here that a Nubian Princess stands chained to the wall with a power inhibitor around her neck. She was taken here only months ago from her Earth, her beloved mother Earth. She was replaced with a Skrull agent after she saw the world turn white as she heard "No More Mutants". She could not remember much more after that but she did know in her heart she would be found by at least one man who would never give up looking for her. His name is Logan the WOLVERINE.
Chapter End Notes:
Sorry it was short but it will get longer soon. promise
A Chance lost by Stormcrow
Author's Notes:
another short chapter but it adds to what the story is
They say in space no one can hear you scream, in the darkness that is the negative zone that is not always so. Essentially, it is a universe parallel to Earth's. The two have many similarities, but a few noteworthy differences include: all matter in the Negative Zone is negatively charged; the Negative Zone is entirely filled with a pressurized, breathable atmosphere; and near the center of the Negative Zone is a deadly vortex of unspeakable power. Since the Negative Zone is largely uninhabited, several would-be conquerors have attempted to bridge the gap to Earth and take over its population. A few notable residents of the Negative Zone include Blastaar, Annihilus, Stygorr and Noktiis. Though here is also where the Skrull hide their largest prison base hidden deep within a dwarf planet surrounded by a Dyson's sphere. They did not create this place but found it and have used it for many things from experimentation to confinement. The creators of this sphere were only called the Tyannans and that is all anyone knows of them. This place is only called Dragus Epsul and like Negative Zone Prison Alpha designed by Tony Stark, Reed Richards and Hank Pym it was to house captured humans and meta-humans of Earth so as to replace them back on Earth as the Skrull took their places.
Through the cells either lay, sit, or stand many people though there is only one here that could control the weather and is constantly restrained through drugs and an inhibitor collar. She was born in America, raised as a thief in Cairo, became a goddess in middle Africa and later a leader of the X-Men. Her name is Ororo Monroe though the world knows her better as STORM. As she lays upon her bed, her drug induced mind reclaims moments of her past, minutes and hours of times in her past before she arrived here.
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It has only been an hour since she and Logan had made love as the sun peeks its rays over the eastern ridge kissing the tree line with the warmth of its beams of light. She smiles at the new day after she looks over to the wild man laying in his bed, barely covered by the still damp sheets of their sexual escapades during the early morning hours just past midnight. She sees the look of gratification upon his face with that damned smirk across his face. That man was the best at what he does she thought as a moment of peace settled over her soul. She embraced herself as her nude body felt the warm sun peaking over the tree tops that morning knowing she could not deny the real reason she had come here to him. It wasn't about a "booty call" it was about finding out if she felt anything more than lust for this man, her old friend, this nature's beast. She knew she did but she needed to know if he loved her the same way. He did. How did she know she had asked herself. She knew when he had embraced her in his sleep, whispering her name in her ear and those words he never said. Ororo closed her eyes as she remembered that moment.....
"I love you Ro."
She smiled at the memory only made minutes before and the day began to touch her skin in its warmth and peacefulness that was the early morning. That was until she saw someone walking toward her.
"Jean, your dead."
She could not comprehend what trickery had occurred until she felt something pierce her skin and instantly she fell down paralyzed, unable to move as her eyes focused the best they could onto the person. It was her. Ororo could not do anything as her mind then faded into the blackness of oblivion. When she awoke she was placed in restraints and an inhibitor collar to serve two functions; the first was to dampen her powers, the second acted like a siphon transferring her abilities to her Skrull counterpart. There in front of her stood two Skrull who stood guard over her and seven other X-Men; Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin- COLOSSUS, Rachel Anne Grey-MARVEL GIRL, Samuel Zachary Guthrie-CANNONBALL, Emma Grace Frost-WHITE QUEEN, Monet St. Croix-M, and Hisako Ichiki-ARMOR. They also were within restraints and inhibitor collars like her yet they were still unconscious.

She felt fear fester within her, then anger that only a god or goddess could muster as a Skrull pushed a button and her anger dissipated as the bliss of a drug induced Xanadu washed over her. That was several months ago. She now looked out of her energy cell, out toward the other residents of this prison planet and wondered if anyone even knew she was gone. She bowed her head allowing her hair to fall over her face as a tear dropped to the floor.
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The person that walked toward Ororo fired the tranquilizer dart that immobilized the weather witch. As she hit the ground the person that looked like Jean Grey transformed into the now dormant Ororo and placed a collar around her neck. Seconds later the impostor's eyes went white as the clouds in the sky and a smile crept over her face.
"Take her to the ship for transport. Our first operative was killed when he impersonated the WOLVERINE and we will not make that mistake again." She said as she spoke to two others that resembled Colossus and the White Queen. "I must join my husband to make sure he has taken his rightful place as the earthling BLACK PANTHER."

An hour later Logan awoke to find a note on his table written and signed by Ororo that said she was leaving for Africa. Logan did not say anything as a tear fell to the floor.
Chapter End Notes:
reviews are always welcomed


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