[Reviews - 104]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story |
Printer Chapter or Story |
ePub eBook Chapter or Story |

Has been viewed 2544 times

- Text Size +




4. Security Risk

“He’s got out Scott” “He’s escaped”

“Oh mah God” Rogue gasped over the commlink.
“What happened Rogue?” “Rogue” Scott called out to his teammate.
“Merde” Gambit’s voice startled Scott.
“Gambit I ordered you to stay back till the guns were taken care of.”
“They ave been tak’in care of monami” Gambit answered, his voice wavering. “You should see this.”

Taking note of the situation Scott ran towards the base. Once inside he located his teammates and was shocked by what he saw. “Oh shit” was all he could say. There was blood and gore everywhere. The whole corridor was littered by body parts. Not oven one solider was left in one piece.
“What happened here?” he asked turning to the other x-men. “Who did this?”
“Ah don’t know” responded Rogue feeling sick from all the carnage around her. “I was faitghin’ mah way in the next corridor and suddenly there were loud cries.”

As if on cue, a loud roar sounded around them, followed by loud cries of fear and pain. “Where is that?” asked Scott. The cries seemed to be coming from all sides, echoing through the air vents.
““Scott”” called Jean over their psi-link. ““Come out immediately””
“Jean” Scott was losing his calm exterior. Jean’s voice held the same fear he had heard from the soldiers. Things were not going according to the plan. He had anticipated resistance from the humans and had planned for every contingency. Except this. He didn’t expect to have a *berserk* mutant on his hands. “Jean we have to find Wolverine and stop him.”
Jean’s voice sounded weary. “It’s all over Scott. He had killed everyone inside the base. He will be coming out any moment. Hurry up.”

“OUT NOW”

The x-men reached the exit just in time to see a dark figure escaping on a motorcycle.
“Wow” whispered Bobby, appreciating the impressive stunt driving. “Nice BIKE.”

The x-men gawked in wonder as the rider expertly maneuvered the bike, gaining speed and moving away from the base.
“Stop staring and get him” yelled Scott snapping out. “Gambit, Beast, Colossus and Shadowcat; get back to the Blackbird and get airborne. We’ll need it once we catch up with him.” “The rest of you – FOLLOW HIM.”

The x-men immediately went into action, with Rogue carrying Beast and Jean, Scott. Nightcrawler and Iceman followed the speeding bike on their own.

---

“Step on it soldier” yelled out the angry Major, panicking for his life. He knew it well – ‘the thing’ that was following them.
“I am going as fast as I can Major Wraith sir” blubbered the young man in the driver’s seat.
“If you want to stay alive – private” Wraith threatened turning to the driver. “Then I suggest you go faster.”

“Excuse me sir” The color ran out from the private’s already pallid face. “But….there…there’s something…..someone there” he said, pointing to the road.
Wraith’s eyes widened as he followed the soldier’s hand. ‘How’d he get here so soon’ he gulped.

“Floor it” he commanded.
“Sir, we can’t go any faster. If we try, we’ll skid on the snow” tried the private. He had recently been posted to the lab and had heard ‘gory’ tales about its prize possession. It was said that, this thing couldn’t be killed, no matter what you hit it with.
“I said – FLOOR IT” yelled Wraith. “Ram *it* as hard as you can.”

The private floored the gas pedal, causing the truck to accelerate and pick up speed.

----

“Oh my stars….” was all Beast could say as the truck barreled towards the lone figure, calmly sitting on the bike in the middle of the road.
Right before their eyes, the mutant known to as Wolverine snapped into action. Just as the truck reached him, he jumped off the bike and crouched low on the ground.

- SNIKT -

Six metal claws shot out of his hands. As the truck hit him, he extended his hands forward, cutting through the lower carriage and front axle. The truck dug into the ground, Wolverine trapped under it. The impact broke the private’s neck, killing him instantly. He hadn’t noticed his commanding officer jump out of the truck at the last moment or thought of doing the same.

“No one could survive THAT” a wide eyed Iceman stated, gesturing towards the remains of the truck.

The words had barely left his mouth, when there was movement from the wreck and a smoldering figure crawled out from under the truck.

“What is he?” mused Scott.

“He be the Wolverine mein friend” informed the blue skinned Nightcrawler, getting a frown from their leader.

---

Wraith knew that a *small* thing like a two ton truck wasn’t going to stop Wolverine. But it would give him enough time to get ready.

With his hand on the gun’s trigger, he smiled menacingly as he saw movement under the truck. The gun in hand was a special one. If he managed to get enough shots, it would take care of the animal, once and for all.

“Wraith” wheezed Wolverine, his face twitching as new muscles grew on it.

The x-men watched in horror as the human soldier let loose a volley of bullets on the injured mutant. The bullets exploded on contact, blowing away chunks of his skin and muscles.

----

Suddenly the gun was yanked away from Wraith’s hand. Looking up he saw a redheaded woman floating in the air, her one hand on her forehead and the gun rising towards the other extended one.

“Great….more muties” he mumbled.

His lapse of concentration and the gun was his undoing as the next instant he found himself on his back, a hairy and bloody face inches away from his, three claws on the left side of his head.
“Wraith” growled Wolverine. “I promised I’d kill ya.”
“Go to hell” grunted Wraith as he felt his ribs cracking under the weight of the mutant straddling his chest.
“Sure” “But I’ll send ya first ta try it out” Wolverine bared his fangs, drawing his claws across Wraith’s face.

“NO” A cry from the redheaded woman, halted Wolverine’s hand.
“We don’t kill” she said.
“Why, don’t have tha guts.” Wolverine snorted at her. “Well then its good that I do” he finished turning back to Wraith.

“We can’t let you do that?” Scott began, drawing Wolverine’s attention to the other x-men.
“What are ya bunch of fetish freaks gonna do ta stop me?” “Scare me with yer leather uniforms, while Red here does the aerial cheerleading.”
“No” Jean scowled at his jibe. “This is what *I* am going to do” she hissed.

The next instant, Wolverine found himself suspended ten feet in the air. ‘Mutants’ his mind cried out. ‘These fuckers are mutants.’ He tried to break free from Jean’s telekinetic grasp, but his injuries along with the immense blood loss had weakened him greatly. Wraith had shot him point blank. His special gun had an explosive charge along with the usual tranquillizers. He also sensed an intrusion into his mind. He could sense his world going black as his healing factor kicked in full force, knocking him out.

“Red” was the last thing he said before unconsciousness overtook him.

---

Setting Wolverine down, Jean turned to Wraith, who was trying to crawl over. Rising to the air and reaching for him, she caught hold of his shirt collar.
“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t just snap your neck right now” she threatened Wraith.
Wraith smirked at her through his bloodied face. “You can’t” he stated calmly. “The animal was right; you people don’t have the guts. None of you do.”
Jean let go of his collar, dropping him back into the snow. “You make me sick. You people are the animals. Treating another human being like that” she said walking away.

“You *things* are not human” Wraith yelled after her retreating form. “NOT HUMAN”

----

“Is he going to be alright” Scott asked. They had managed to transport Wolverine back to the X-Jet. He looked to be in a bad state. The Professor was not going to be happy.
“Yes” answered Beast. He had been cleaning and taking care of Wolverine’s wounds, which were already starting to heal. “Impressive” commended Beast.
“What is impressive?” asked Jean, entering the medical area.
“This” pointed Beast to one of Wolverine’s wounds.

As the three of them watched attentively, the gaping bullet wound healed right before their eyes. Fresh muscle fibers knitting themselves as the skin grew back over it.
“It seems our friend possesses a way to heal from injuries – a very fast way – a healing factor of sorts” summarized Beast, fascinated by the scene before his eyes. “Fascinating”

“Is he going to be alright” Scott asked again. “When will he wake up?”
“Not for atleast another few hours. The bullets Wraith used have caused extensive damage to his entire body.” “But oddly enough none of them seemed to have penetrated into his skull” he added.
“Maybe that’s a part of his mutation too – being hard headed” commented Bobby Drake , chuckling as walked in to join his teammates.

“So this is Wolverine, huh” he said, taking note of the unconscious man lying in front of him.
“Yes” Beast smiled at Bobby. “He doesn’t appear to be anything like you imagined.” “Disappointed Robert?”
“No way” exclaimed Bobby. “Did you see the way he moved? How he handled those soldiers?” “Man he got hit by a truck and walked away like it was nothing. And those claw thingis…WOW”
“Although I must say, I had imagined him to be a *little* taller” he added, indicating towards the short height of their patient. “But look at those muscles. He could even give Pete a run for his money.”
“He killed those men” hissed Scott recalling what he had seen in the corridor. “He cut them into pieces.”
Everyone was silent after that. Henry and Jean set about monitoring Wolverine’s recovery, while Bobby returned to his seat thinking how long an icicle he could ram up Scott’s ass.

---

“We should be heading back” stated Ororo Monroe.
Both she and Forge had been sifting through military and government databases and old file records. However, their search had turned up nothing on Wolverine.

The closest they had come was to something codenamed ‘Weapon X’.

It seemed the military had planned to create the perfect super-soldier. One who could withstand anything the enemy threw at him and keeps on going. The project dated back to 1948. There was also a mention about a failed project – Operation *REBIRTH*, which had been their first try. It was hoped that the Weapon X project would have none of the short comings and faults of its predecessor.

However, even the Weapon X project had data going back seven years. There was nothing after that. It was as if the project had been abruptly terminated.

“Yes. I agree with you” spoke Forge. “We have found all we can. The professor will know what to do with this information.”

Soon they were on the streets of Washington, driving back to the air-field where their jet was hidden.
“Ororo” started Forge, turning to his teammate.
“Hmm” she replied, looking out of the window.
“Would you like to have dinner before we get back to the mansion?”
“Uh…..Forge” Ororo hesitated. She had had a great time with Forge. Well not great, but better than the other times she had been alone with a teammate who was trying to date her. They had told each other about their past, their families and friends.
Sensing her hesitation, Forge recovered quickly. “I mean get a take out – Chinese or something. We can eat it on the way home. I am *really* famished.” “We didn’t even get lunch” he added trying to appease her.

Ororo smiled at him. He had been so polite and patient with her. It seemed rude and difficult not to give into him request.
“Chinese it is” she declared. “But let me remind you – I am a vegetarian.”
“Your wish is my command” responded Forge, bowing down to her, causing her to giggle at his actions.

----

Back at the X-Mansion

The x-men had returned from their *successful* mission with an unconscious Wolverine.

Jean and Henry had wanted to take him to the infirmary, but Scott had refused. “He’s a security risk” he had said.
They had finally taken him to one of the lower level ‘holding cells’. The cell consisted of three feet thick solid steel walls on three sides and 3x1 foot thick triple layer bullet proof glass on the other. The only way in or out was from a secret entrance in the roof. It consisted of a platform which was operated from a control panel on the outside.

Jean had administered a powerful sedative to Wolverine. ‘It should last for the next twelve hours’ she thought. ‘That should be enough time for his body to recover.’

Scott had assigned continuous monitoring duty and had instructed to be informed immediately at the smallest sign of trouble.

He then left to debrief the Professor about the mission.

----

“Couldn’t sleep?”
Ororo Monroe looked up from the coffee cup in her hand, at her best friend standing in the doorway.
“Yes”
“Nightmare?”
“No” answered Ororo. “Just thinking”
“About?” asked Jean, getting a cup of her own.
“Stuff” came the one word answer.
“Stuff, huh” “Does *stuff* include a tall smart Red Indian mutant, who is ready to jump through hoops for you” she asked mischievously.
“Jean” admonished Ororo, a slight smile appearing on her lips.
“What?” asked Jean, giving her best innocent look.
“You like him” It was more of a statement than a question.
“He’s OK”
“But he’s no Logan” Ororo’s smile vanished at Jean’s comment.

Jean sat down next to her and laid a hand on hers.
“I am sorry I didn’t mean to upset you. I know the past few weeks have been hard for you, with the nightmares becoming more frequent and all” she apologized.
Ororo merely nodded her head, her eyes stuck on the glass before her.
“Ororo” Jean began again. “Don’t you think its time to let go of the past. I don’t know about your time with ‘him’. But Forge is here, NOW, in the present and he definitely has feelings towards you.” “Maybe you should give him and more importantly – yourself, a chance.”
Ororo merely nodded her head.

They were silent till Jean spoke again, trying to change the subject.
“So how was your mission to DC?” she asked.
“Easy but hardly productive. We didn’t find anything useful relating directly to Wolverine. But we did get a lead and the Professor feels it might prove useful” answered Ororo. “What about yours?”

“We nearly had our asses handed to us” Jean joked, before growing somber. “The professor was correct about what he said about Wolverine.” “We nearly lost him.”
“Hmm” mused Ororo. “So where is he?”
“Scott has him in one of the holding cells. He was hurt and I wanted to take him to the infirmary, but Scott refused.” “He said, and I quote *He is a security risk*” Jean mimicked in her best Scott voice.
“In fact he is still there, along with Henry and Forge. I was also there but was forced out by Scott and Henry, under orders to get some sleep” she chuckled.

Ororo smiled at her friend. Both Jean and Scott had been attracted towards each other from day one, even before she came to the mansion. However, Scott had been too shy to say anything and it was Jean who had to make the move and ask him out. Last year they had got engaged and moved in together. Looking at them, Ororo was reminded of how her parents had been and unlike them she was.

“So, tell me. What is this Wolverine look like?” she asked, her mood lifting from the contagious effect of Jean’s company.
“Wolverine….He’s…..” began Jean.

Ororo’s eyes widened as Jean described the mutant they knew as Wolverine. ‘It couldn’t be…’ she thought. ‘YESSSS’ her subconscious cried out.

Jean was startled by Ororo’s sudden movement. “Ororo, What happened? What is the matter?”

“Jean, I need you to take me to him.” “I need to see Wolverine.”





You must login () to review.