X-24: Wolverine Reborn

Chapter IX


John could feel his body being dragged across a hard floor. He opened his eyes to see the Sabertooth clone dragging him by the foot. He was still shackled in the cuffs that made him unable to pop his claws out to cut them. He tried to pull his foot away from the clone but X-25 just gripped it harder. They stopped in front of a door that slid open and standing there was a man in a suit who looked down at John.

"Welcome back X-24," Graydon said. "X-25 bring him." The clone obeyed following Graydon into a room with an open tank full of water. There was mechanisms all around that John couldn't begin to know what they were. "You put me through a lot X-24. But lets put that behind us now and get you back to where your suppose to be."

"My name is John," he growled at Graydon. "And I won't be apart of your organization."

"I'm sorry I hope you didn't think to had a choice. Put him in the tank X-25."

"Where's Moonstar? What did you do with him?" John struggled as best he could but was useless.

"Now that we have you…we don't need the old man anymore."


Dani sat on the jet next Laura really not knowing what to say. Armor told her a brief version of a certainly long story. She was also a clone of the original Wolverine and traveled with him for some time before X-24…John killed him. She thought John was also dead which is why she snuck onto the jet. Did this girl attend to kill John. Dani can understand where she is coming from but John isn't like that anymore. He is a good person now. She says that but she often thinks back to when he saves her from the bear. He went blank and was coming for her. Is part of him still X-24 or has he kicked that part out for good. She cant doubt him, not after all of this.

"I won't let you hurt John," Dani said to Laura.

Laura didn't even acknowledge her or what she said with a response. Laura was still conflicted about the while thing. That thing that had been hunting her and Logan was alive. They claim he's different now but he still killed her papa.

"We are coming close to the building," Forge said. "Some crazy amount of energy is coming from there. Its suppose to be abandoned. Use to be a Trask facility according to these records I'm pulling up." Forge continued to mess with the screen in front of him. He entered the jet into hover mode.

"So what's the plan?" Marrow asked.

"We don't want to draw to much attention," Bishop said thinking. "They have John and the girl's father."

"So a stealth approach," Marrow grinned. "I'll get in and drop there defences."

"I'm coming with you," Laura said standing up putting on her black hoodie.

"Absolutely not," Bishop protested.

"Let her come," Marrow responded. "You know she'll do what she wants anyway."

Bishop took a deep breath and nodded. "Do what Marrow says. No running off."

Laura just followed Marrow out the jet without a word.

"She wont go and try and kill John right?" Dani asked wondering should she follow.

"Marrow wont let her. I assure you," Elixer said.


John was strapped down with metal restraints attached to a platform ready to lower it self into the tank full of water. Graydon and X-25 were on the other side of the room watching the scientist get everything ready.

"What are you doing?" John asked.

"Fixing you," Graydon said. "Going to make sure there will be no more disobedience."

"I wont be what you made me."

"We'll see about that. Start the procedure."

The platform lowered itself submerging John in the water. A needle went into the back of his neck and he could feel his mind going blank.

Marrow and Laura navigated quietly outside the building staying out of sight avoiding cameras and the men patrolling. Based on the schematics Forge showed them there was a sewer grate they could use to get in underneath. Marrow lead with Laura close behind. Marrow made a long spike come out her arm and used it to pry the door open. She gentle place the grate down and walked into the sewer. Laura covered her nose to help with the smell.

Marrow noticed this and smiled. "Be lucky. You didn't have to live down in one of these most of your life."

Laura pulled her shirt over her nose ushering forward. They came to a ladder that lead under the building. Marrow went up first and tried to open the latch but it was locked. She grew another spike and shoved it in and broke the latch. They climbed up seeing they were in a dark room. There was a cage on one side that looked like it could hold a rhino. They saw blood across the floor all over the room.

"This must be where they held there projects," Marrow said walking to the door. "We should find the control room. Then we can locate John and the girls father."

"Lets go," Laura said walking pass Marrow.

They moved through the base peeking behind every corner before continuing. Marrow stopped when she saw a man in a lab coat walking. He was looking down at his clip board not paying attention. Marrow rushed him quickly pulling out a spike putting it to his neck.

"Mutant," he said scared.

"Yea, mutant. Where is the control room?" she demanded putting the spike closer to his neck.

"Down that hallway," he pointed. "Third door to the right."

"Thanks," she said with a smirk before bashing his head against the wall.

Laura and Marrow came to the door. Laura put her ear to it and listened carefully. She looked to Marrow lifting up four fingers.

Marrow nodded in response kicking the door down jumping into the middle of the room tossing spikes at two of the guards watching screens. Laura jumped at one of them driving her claws into his chest before quickly flipping to the last one and slashing his throat with the claw from her foot. Marrow has always been impressed with Laura's combat abilities. She's just a child but her instincts in a fight are top notch. Its impressive but also kind of sad at the same time.

"Lets find them," Marrow said. They moved towards the screens and began to search for John and Moonstar. Marrow looked at one screen saw a man locked up in a cell. "That must be Mister Moonstar. Now we have to find-.

Marrow turned to see Laura was gone. She went to the screen she was last at and gave a heavy sigh. She saw John in a tank somewhere in the building trapped. She was going straight for him.


Bishop and the others sat in silence when Marrow's coms flared up. "Bishop, come in."

"Marrow, what's your status?," Bishop asked.

"We made it in…found the two…she ran off."

"Damn it," Bishop said.

"She is going to go kill John," Dani said in a panic.

"We wont let her," Elixer said.

"Get ready to go down there," Bishop ordered his team.


Graydon sat watching the procedure take place as X-25 stood in silence. It should be done soon then he can send X-24 and X-25 to deal with any mutants that surface, starting with these New X-Men. One of Creed's men approached with a fast paste.

"The security room has been breached."

"X-25 search for any intruders," Graydon commanded.

X-25 left in a hurry as Creed watched as John was in the final stages of being under his control again. Suddenly the vent in the room busted open and out came Laura popping her claws out. She started cutting down the scientist one by one. She flipped over a table jumping on the back of a man stabbing him in the back then jumping to the next. Graydon moved towards a computer to see the procedure was at 98%. When it finishes he'll unleash X-24 on her.


John was still submerged under the water. At least his body was. His mind was else where. He was walking in the white void again. He looked around for Xavier and saw him in the distance. John approached him but something seemed different about him. His eyes were closed and almost seemed he was in pain.

"What's happening?" John asked.

"There trying to erase your mind. I wont let them," Xavier said. "I'm afraid its taking all I have."

John suddenly heard screams coming from outside the void. They sounded like a small girls. They seemed familiar…it was her. The white void around John began to enclose in black.

"Seems our time together has come to an end," Xavier said. "Remember, you don't have to be what they made you." He soon faded as John was engulfed by the darkness.


Laura finished off the last man in the room as she looked to the tank holding X-24. She moved toward it but was caught off guard when the platform began to rise. She looked up to see Creed standing there operating a computer.

"You wont be causing any more problems girl," he said releasing the restraints on X-24. His eyes shot open and he climbed down from the platform coming face to face with Laura. "X-24, kill her."

Laura got on guard as the clone made a step towards her. Laura was ready to do what she had to. X-24 popped his claws. With a vicious yell he leaped towards her slashing and clawing at her. She was able to dodge most of it but he was going berserk. She slid under a table which be cut through. She flipped over one of his attacks then lunged at him. He was prepared though as be grabbed her mid air.

"Be ready," John whispered.

She was confused at first but soon realized what was happening. He spun her around throwing her towards Creed who didn't have time to react as Laura crashed into him putting her claws into his chest. He fell to the ground coughing blood up. Laura pulled her claws out and looked down at him with disgust.

"You think this means anything, Graydon said. "You all are nothing. The world will never accept you."

Laura didn't bother with a response leaping down back to where John was. It was a moment of silence that both knew would happen. Neither knew how to proceed, but John knew be had to be the first to act.

"I remember everything. You would have every right to kill me. I did a lot of bad things. The family on the farm, Xavier…Logan…I would understand."

Laura had so many mixed emotions at that moment. She didn't know what to expect but she knew she couldn't kill him.

"Don't be what they made you," Laura said to him.

John just simply nodded grabbing his clothes and throwing them on. He followed Laura out the room.

Graydon still sat there covered in his own blood. With the last of his strength he grabbed his watch pushing the communication button. "X-25, kill everything you see." With his last words spoken he takes his last breath.


X-25 is walking along side a guard when he suddenly stops. The guard looks back. "Hey, what are you doing? Let's go you mutant frea-." He was cut off instantly when X-25 plunged his claws into the mans chest. With a roar he throws him aside and begins his rampage.