X-24: WOLVERINE REBORN

CHAPTER II


John's eyes shot open as he found himself lying in the bed. He saw he was bandaged up all over his body. He looked down at his hands as the memory of what happened came rushing back to him. He clenched his fist as the three blades came slowly out his body. He lifted his other hand clenching it into a fist as the three blades came out of that hand as well.

The door to the room opened and walked in was Dani holding a big pot of water and medical supplies. She closed the door turning around to see John sitting up claws out. She jumped back in shock dropping everything starring at the claws. John retracted his claws seeing they were scarring her.

"I'm sorry," he said with remorse. He has no idea what came over him. As soon as he said the blood and felt the pain he lost all reason.

"You saved me," Dani said beginning to pick up the supplies she dropped.

"I would not hurt you," he assured. His speaking was still a little rocky but he could get that across.

"I know," Dani said with a smile. "Because I know who you are."

"What?"

"Who you are?" she said going to the closet. She went to the top grabbing a box that seemed pretty heavy as she walked over setting it on the bed. Opening it she gave a wide grin to him. "Look inside."

John went into the box reaching inside. He pulled out a book that had colorful images on it. He saw people wearing colorful costumes standing side by side. His eyes fell on a man in a yellow suit that had three claws coming from his hands. He looked to Dani with great confusion.

"That's you," Dani expressed. "Wolverine!"

"Wolverine?" he repeated. He grabbed more books from the box. "X…Men," he read the book title.


Moonstar was down stairs loading his gun as he sat in thought. To have the Wolverine in his house was an honor in many ways but all he could think about was what he was doing outside in that forest and was surrounded by soldiers. He hasn't been heard from in years and to find him the way he was could only spell trouble. There was also something different from the stories he's heard about him. He heard he could heal from just about anything right before your eyes. He defiantly healed quicker than a regular person so he knows there is a healing factor involved, but it's nowhere near as strong as what he's heard. It took some stitching and bandages but he healed much quicker than anyone else could have.

Moonstar headed upstairs seeing Dani still hadn't come down. He opened the door to see the two with comics all over the bed. Both were reading and clearly they have not noticed he walked in.

"You haven't read those in years," Moonstar said.

"Forgot how engrossing they could be," Dani replied not looking away from the page.

"John? You okay?" Moonstar asked.

"Is this really me?" he asked.

"We think so," Moonstar confessed. "Now those books were just written by fans and people looking to make money so take what you read with a grain of salt.

"Your actual name is Logan," Dani tells him showing a panel in the comic book.

"I'm about to put dinner on so when you're ready come down."

"Okay, come on Logan," Dani said getting out the bed.

"John," he said still looking at the comics. "Call me John."


The next day came and John along with Dani were out to see just what he could with his abilities. He knows about the claws obviously and they told him he has some sort of healing factor which is why he is out of bed only a few days after the incident. He suspects he may have some pretty good senses. He has some pretty good smell with knowing where things have been in certain places. He knows a squirrel came by just a few moments ago and is currently in a tree a few feet away. A wolf also was here last night and his scent went towards the mountains.

"So?" Dani asked.

"I can smell a lot," John said walking around the woods. "Can't believe I never noticed it."

"What about hearing?"

John went quite closing his eyes letting all the noises come to him. "I hear a lot. There are a nest of baby birds up there," he said pointing to a tall tree. "There are…bear cubs drinking from the river," he paused for a moment and something in particular caught his ear. "There are vehicles going towards the house."


Moonstar sat on the porch with his hunting gun reading a book as he heard the roar of engines coming. He hasn't had visitors in a long time so this made him extra cautious. He stood up looking at the road to see a number of black cars approaching.

"Guess I should have seen this coming," standing up to meet the people he walked up.

Only one man got out to meet him. He was wearing a slick black suit and had reddish hair. He looked right at Moonstar walking over with a grin.

"Hello there," he greeted extending his hand that Moonstar shook. "My name is Graydon Creed."

"What can I do for you Mister Creed? A fancy man such as yourself out here in the woods…a little odd."

"I don't think so…always had a little bit of a wild side in me a hidden animal if you will," he said looking around at the scenery. "Care to invite me in. There are some questions I have for you."

"Alright, just you though."

They both walked into the house with Moonstar closing the door as soon as Graydon entered. Moonstar gestured towards a chair where Graydon took a seat. He moved towards the fireplace placing a log into it and started a flame. He turned around looking at Creed who was sitting casually.

"What can I do for you?"

"I and my organization experienced a little hiccup a few months back."

"What kind of hiccup?"


John and Dani approached the house to see the many cars stationed outside. There was also men in suit standing around and leaning on cars. Some of them were also walking around. John was about to approach until Dani grabbed his arm.

"What?" John asked.

"My father told me if there was ever red smoke coming from the chimney to stay away." John looked up to see the red smoke Dani was talking about. "We need to sneak through the back and see what's going on."

They waited till one was looking away and another walked by. They quietly moved across the field ducking behind a car. Moving behind the house before anyone could notice they peeked into the back window to see Moonstar talking with a man.

"Who is he?" Dani asked. "I can't hear what he is saying."

"Let me try," John pushed his ears to the wall.

"You see Mister Moonstar," Graydon started. "This man we are looking for isn't actually a man. He's a project we had been working on for some time. He is a clone made up of genetic material we got from a donor. He's also very dangerous. He was designed to be a weapon and I fear what he could do to anyone that comes across him. He went missing on an assignment around here some months back and it took us some time to get affairs in order so that we could coming looking for him. We came across are men who were all dead."

Moonstar was listening to him and believed some of what he was saying. John may be dangerous in fact he knows he is dangerous but he is a victim of these people's experiments. He's a living being now and deserves a chance at life like all other people.

"I'm going to ask you a question now and I need an honest answer," Graydon said. "Have you seen this man." He lifted up a picture that sure enough showed John.

"No," he replied without hesitation.

"Well alright then," Graydon replied getting up and walked straight outside. He opened the door to one of the cars. "Grab him."

A group of men charged into house ready to grab Moonstar but before they could John came crashing through the window tackling one of the men. John got up grabbing the man he just tackled and tossed him through the door sending him outside. The other men in the house pulled out there guns on John. John glared daggers at them drawing his claws and jumping at them.

Outside Graydon could hear the gun shots going and screams coming from the home. A moment of silence fell as a tall well-built man came out the house.

"X-24," Graydon smirked. "We have been looking for you. Why don't you come quietly and no more people got to get hurt."

Nice thought but Moonstar knew he and his daughter were as good as dead. They know too much and have seen even more. He also wasn't about to let them take him in so he could be there little project.

"What are we going to do?" Dani asked her father. She was peeking out the window seeing John stand before dozens of guy's with his claws ready.

"I want you to get the truck out back ready," Moonstar said handing Dani his keys.

He picked up his hunting rifle checking to make sure it was loaded and waited for the inevitable.

"My name is John."

"No," Graydon replied. "You don't have a name. You are X-24 and project created to serve our purpose."

John was breathing heavy as his eyes fell on all the men he was facing.

"I'm John."

"Christ, it thinks it's a person," Graydon said. "Apprehend him."

A few of the men whipped out electrical sticks that began to illuminate at the tip. The sound of their static could be heard loud and clear. Some of the other men pulled out some kind of guns from their coats aiming them at John.

"Last chance," Graydon said.

Before John could make a choice a gun shot came from the house hitting one of the men holding a gun.

John lunged at the closest goon putting both claws into his chest. He got up slashing a man running at him across the neck then proceeded to the next. John cut down another goon then was hit in the back by one of the sticks. John yelled in pain turning to stab the man in the chest. He hit the next guy straight up in the jaw then chunked him into the car. The men with guns started firing at John as soon as there men were clear. He got hit a few times before diving at one of the shooters cutting his hand off then stabbing him in the gut. He tossed him off going to the next one.

Moonstar was in the house firing rounds from his rifle trying to get rid of the shooters. He was sure John could take the stick wielding men but to many gunshots wounds and he could be bed ridden again.

John was cutting through one man after the next and soon he was starting to fade away. The red was returning and he feared he may be losing himself again like he did with the bear. He was hit some more by the man wielding sticks making him feel numb. You could see the red marks from the weapons burns. John saw an incoming attack and shoved his claws into the man's hand making him cry in pain. John twisted his arm and shoved his claws into the goon's skull.

John yelled again as a gunshot hit him in the back of his thigh making him fall to the ground. He looked around as the men were about to surround him. Suddenly the honking of a horn could be heard and Dani came rushing in with her father's truck.

"Get in!" she yelled to her father and John.

Moonstar fired another shot hitting a gunman and began to make his way to the truck leaving the house. He ran out onto the front porch firing another round. John was able to stab the man in front of him and jump into the passenger seat of the truck. Moonstar was almost to the truck when he ws suddenly hit in the arm by a gunshot and then tackled to the ground by one of the goon's

"Go," Moonsta yelled to his daughter punching the man off of him and then stabbing him with his hunting knife.

Dani could see more men coming to the truck and saw John would jump out in an instant if he had to. Dani looked to her father who was his in the chest by one of the electric sticks making him pass out. Dani hit the pedal and took off with tears and anger in her eyes as she left her father behind.

The remaining men recollected themselves as Graydon got out his car. He saw Mister Moonstar lying on the ground unconscious.

"Patch him up and bring him with us."


An hour on the road later John eyes opened to see he was lying in Dani's lap who was still driving the car. He sat up looking out the window to see the barren country side. Mister Moonstar was left behind with those men who was looking for him.

"We have to find out who the hell those guys were," Dani said not taking her eyes off the road.

"To dangerous," John simply said still in pain as he could feel the bullets trying to work their way out of his body.

"You're the Wolverine," Dani said. "We'll be okay."

"I'm not him," John responds. "You heard them. I'm just a project…a clone…an experiment."

Dani put a full stop to the car causing John to hit his head on the dashboard. He looked at Dani who had a furious look in her eyes.

"You lived with us. Ate with us. Learned from us."

Dani," John tried to talk but failed.

"You are a person," Dani said pointing her finger at him. "You are not X-24. I'm Danielle Moonstar and you are John…John Moonstar."