Through the Years Chapter 10
By Agent Reptile
Ranma 1/2 and all various in sundry characters found within belongs to Viz comics/video and Rumiko Takahashi (not mine). Wolverine, X-Men, and any other Marvel characters which come along belong to (duh) Marvel comics (not mine). Tenchi Muyo and all various characters I pull from them belong to AIC and Pioneer (not mine). Gold Diggers belongs to Antarctic Press and Fred Perry (not mine). G.I.Joe belongs to Hasbro (also not mine). Darkstalkers belongs to Viz comics and Capcom (you see a pattern here?). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles belong to Mirage Studios (again not mine). Ran Okami (my character so ask if you want to use). As said in previous version Logan has been an X-man years before the others. Any other connection between X-Men: Evolution and this fic ends at that line as this is like the comics or the other X-Men cartoon from the 90's.
"English"
"Japanese"
"Telepathic"
Previously in Through the Years: The nature of Ukyo's mutation was discovered, the family's training got a little rougher, and Ran Okami proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that all Ranma's have the tendency to attract women like a moth to a flame. On the darker side of things, Cobra has discovered the Logans and will follow them and their allies to the ends of the world for revenge.
Death is an inevitability in nature. No matter how much all life is driven to overcome all adversities on this world, all lives eventually fall victim to the jaws of the relentless predator at our backs from the day we are born. This is why we see the X-Men standing before a tombstone entitled with Japanese charactertures and English letters.
Not one face smiled as the dull grey colors of the cloudy afternoon seemed to match the sensations of Ukyo's heart with its drab pigments of light. The young mutant kept wiping her eyes as they teared up for the loss of her father. If this had been just about any other worlds' Ukyo not one tear would likely fall. However this particular member of the Kuonji clan wasn't abandoned like others and did indeed have reason to morn for the loss of her father's love.
China had been a major turning point for all the members of the Logan clan, but the one it had most affected was the young woman now standing in black.
"Dearly beloved," Professor Xaiver said as she stood before the mock-up of a grave. "It is with heavy heart that we morn the passing of a great man and father of one of our most cherished students; Ukyo Kuonji." Professor X stopped for a moment to think about his words.
"He had the difficult duty of raising his lovely daughter without the aid of his wife, but he did everything he could to give the most important part of his life a chance at a good life. And although he was not long for the world, he didn't let it affect the love that he showed for his little girl. Let us also not forget that it was this man who gave Ukyo the opportunity to join our family of X-Men, where she was accepted among those far different from her even before she was considered a mutant. Now as we let go of the proud head of the Kuonji clan, let him know that the one that he loved most of all on Earth has truly found a new home and family where she will spread the love that her father gave her." Professor X smiled as Ukyo's face brightened a little from his speech.
"Now you can finally rest good sir, reunited with your wife whom you were separated from for what seems so long and were the two of you look with pride upon your daughter and the works she has yet to do." Ukyo laid down a white lily at the stone slab and pressed her fingers against the cold marble rock feeling the letters carved in it's face.
"Good bye daddy. I'll see you soon. Don't worry I'll be okay." Ukyo smiled as she got up and hugged both Nodoka and Logan. "I'm in good hands." She thought to herself as Ran Okami placed his hand on her shoulder.
Logan smirked slightly, but he felt like something wasn't right here. "You'll be okay kid?" the Canadian asked as Ukyo let him go.
"I'll be fine sir. It will be painful for some time, but I'll be okay." Ukyo smiled as she let go and walked inside to change out of her funeral dress.
"Hey Uchan how about we spend some time in the Danger Room and see if we can't knock a few seconds off our old time?" Ran Okami asked as he slapped the closest thing to a sister he had on the back.
"You want to see who beats who's record first Ranchan?"
"You're on Uchan. I know that I'll be beating my record long before you do." Ran Okami smirked.
"Why don't you put your skills where your mouth is Ranchan." Ukyo said as she punched Ran Okami in the shoulder as the door closed behind them.
"No offence Logan but Ukyo seems to have gotten over the loss of her father pretty quickly." Iceman said as she scratched the back of his head."
"She's tough, what about it?" Logan nearly growled at Bobby.
"Oh nothing...forget I asked." Bobby began to back off from the irate warrior. Nodoka, however, placed her hand on Bobby's shoulder and sighed. However, she had done this with such stealth that Bobby nearly jumped out of his skin when he realized Logan's wife was there.
"Calm down please Bobby. The reason that Ukyo is so at ease with the death of her father is that she has already had time to deal with the pain in China; just because she isn't too upset now is no indication of who deeply she feels for her father or how much she misses him."
"Got it Auntie." Bobby said, coming down from the adrenaline rush of fear induced shock. "But please don't scare me like that again."
"My apologies. I am so used to my skills that to not use them is unfamiliar." Nodoka bowed slightly as she smiled at the teenage mutant with a motherly air to her.
"Well well...looks like Bobby seems to be a little problem with women sneaking up on him." Warren chided the icy mutant now taking a deep breath.
"Oh really great liner there air head. Do you come up with your own material or just pay someone to come up with something that pathetic?"
"Who are you calling an air head there ice cube? And you're one to talk since you couldn't even think of a good line no matter how much someone pays you." Warren replied as his wings were pulled back in an intimidating pose.
"Okay you two take a cold shower." Cyclops said as she stood in-between the two of them. His glasses flashed a bright crimson spark that was meant to stop the conflict dead. Unfortunatly it didn't really work out too well.
"Oh you want to start something 'commander'? I'll take you on right now." Warren cocked his fist ready to lay a right hook on Scott.
"Why don't you cool off cocky?" Bobby said as a stream of ice jetted out of his hand and hit Warren in the wings. The extra weight caused Warren to become unbalanced for a second and he stumbled backwards.
"Oh it's on now 'Icecube'." Warren said as his anger grew and he lept at Bobby, blind to the fact that Scott was in his path.
"Warren look out!" yelled as he was about to be tackled. In reflex he lifted his ruby shades for a second and nailed Warren in the chest, stunning him for several seconds. "Okay I've had enough from both of you." Scott said. "Warren when you're finished recovering I want you to run three laps around the mansion.."
"Too easy." Warren thought to himself. "I'll be done in..."
"while wearing Ran Okami's backpack."
"Thirty years." Warren groaned to himself. "Fine."
"And you Bobby." Scott thought for a moment. "I think that you are in need of some stealth and observation training to fix your problem of being caught off guard, so you get to train with Ran Okami and Ukyo for the week."
"Oh come on Scott." Bobby interjected. "Warren started this mess."
"And I ended it." Scott said as he looked Bobby in the eyes. "You got it?"
"I take it that nothing's really changed while we were gone huh Chuck?" Logan said as he pulled out a cigar and lit a match.
"Not much my good friend, and I ask that you not take that inside." Charles Xavier said as he looked around and seemed to have a worried look on his face.
"Something wrong Charles?" Nodoka asked as she joined her husband in walking around the campus with Xavier.
"I'm not sure actually Nodoka. Ever since you arrived back from China I've been having picking up loose thoughts from someone but I cannot pinpoint from whom or where they are coming from."
"You are sure that it is actually someone Charles? I mean if they are just random thoughts.."
"Although you raise a valid point Nodoka, the thoughts are in the form of words and just like each person has their won voice, so to their own thought voice. I have been around each of my students long enough that I would know each of their thought voices if you will by memory, though you know that I never invade the minds of others for any but the most dire of reasons."
"It is one of the reasons that I respect you so much Charles." Nodoka replied as she overlooked the school grounds. The leaves on the trees waved genteelly as they were lifted by the calm breezes of the late spring winds. Soon the green foliage now shading the walkways of the Xaiver mansion would be indispensable as the heat of summer would make life harsh for any caught outside of the shade.
The matron of the Logan clan took this all in with a calm sigh. The peaceful tranquility that now surrounded her seemed too good to be real. Ever since her beloved Logan entered her life, Nodoka had been forced into the lifestyle of action and danger that is the hallmark of being a superhero. This tranquility didn't fool Nodoka for a second, however, for such times of peace generally are nothing more than the precursors of times of great challenge.
"You okay darlin?" Logan asked as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "You've got a 50 foot gaze in a 20 foot room look."
"Ah what...Oh yes sorry beloved." Nodoka said as she shook her head a few times bringing herself around. "I just got lost for a second. I'm sorry for upsetting you but I'm getting the feeling that...what is the expression..." Nodoka thought for a second. "I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"Yea got that feeling too. Something just don't feel right here." Wolverine's nostril's flared for a moment as the Canadian turned his head around looking for the slightest trace of whatever or whoever was now scheming against them.
"Anything Logan?" Professor Xavier asked as he turned his chair around and looked up.
"Nothing but the pool's chlorine, the trees, a fox in the forest, and a deer taking a piss." Logan growled as he spat on the ground.
"While I share your frustration dear, did you have to be so blunt?" Nodoka asked.
"Wanted to be thorough babe." Logan smirked.
"Yes well...at any rate there appears to be no clue as to what is going on." Professor Xavier chuckled. "But at least I now know that the forests that envelope the school grounds are healthy." The telepath said as he proceeded to roll along the walkway out to the edge of the yard.
Meanwhile down in the Danger Room, we find our two young heroes in pitched combat against a horde of the most terrifing robotic opponents the brilliant mind of one Henry "Hank" McCoy could design and build. In other words they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
"Hey Beast what happened here?" Ran Okami asked as he gazed over the newly refurbished Danger Room. From stem to stern the Danger Room was shiny as a new car right off the lot. Gone was the all the obvious dangers and traps and the place actually looked as empty as a tomb, a chrome plated tomb.
"I took the liberty of redesigning the entire Danger Room while you were gone." Beast smiled. "Consider it a return home present for the two of you."
"So where's all the equipment?" Ukyo asked as she gazed from one side of the room to the other.
"Since the X-Men will have to deal with several different dangers, environments, enemies, etc. I designed this new danger room to be able to change itself to suite such needs." Beast said as he polished his glasses. "The actual traps are under your feet, and can be raised to lowered depending on which one is needed where from this control room."
"Wow." Ran Okami and Ukyo said with mouths agape.
"Why thank you. However I haven't quite gotten the holographic generators quite right so it's still a work in progress. Still I think you will find these opponents challenging enough for your contest." Beast pressed one of the numerous buttons located on the control panel.
As the trigger mechanism was activated, a series of doors opened along the side of the room and a legion of robotic foes headed towards the two young mutants. Although these foes looked like metallic versions of the undead, with their skull-like heads and gangly limbs. Some of said limbs were not just human-like hands; some of these machines had chainsaws, whips, and other assorted tools of death and destruction that made this challenge very real and very dangerous.
"Okay this changes our bet slightly." Ran Okami said thinking for a second.
"Lets just make it how many opponents we defeat now versus when we left for China." Ukyo said as she pulled out her battle spatula.
"Works for me." Wild Wolf said as the robots charged the two mutants.
"Man Beast where do you come up with such great toys?' Ran Okami said as he back flipped out of range of a passing buzz-saw blade attached to the arm of one such robot. The young Logan landed on his hands, and using his momentum, pushed himself up and onto the back of another robot. This particular foe had powerful clawed hands and a silver-chrome covering.
As the robot tried desperately to grab his irritating opponent, Wild Wolf flexed his arms and released his claws. In one blindingly swift movement, those claws where driven hard into the robot's head. Sparks of blue and yellow exploded from where the bone blades impaled the metal one way clear through to the other. Not wasting a second, Ran Okami pulled his claws back out of the machine and swung his other arm around the neck of his K.O.'ed target and dropped to the ground while simultaneously throwing the robot several feet into the torso of another opponent in one fluid motion.
"Let us just say that I enjoy giving my mental talents a challenge my friend. As much as you enjoy pushing your body to its limit, so do I my imagination and technical skills." Beast smiled from the control room, smiling at the impressive display of gymnastic skill both teenagers where displaying.
"Reminds me of my high school varsity football days." Beast thought to himself as Ukyo rolled low at her target and swung her spatula into the back of her foe's calf region, causing the robot to come crashing down hard on its back.
In that split-second time frame, Ukyo flexed her wrist and shot a minispatula down hard into the neck of her target and hitting one of the hydraulic stabilizers for the head. Said head immediately dropped on that side as the fluid pressure dropped. Ukyo's metallic foe was, however, able to get back up on it's feet and attempted to smack the young lady hard. Ukyo didn't dodge though. Standing her ground, she let the robot's fist come right around her check, where it stopped cold. Ukyo's muscles strained for a moment as she absorbed the force of the impact and knelt down for a second before unleashing an uppercut on the robot's jaw. The head of her foe shot off like a bottle cap and made a series of clangs on the floor of the Danger room before coming to a rolling stop.
"Though I am beginning to have some doubts to my abilities, if they pose such little challenge for the two of you." Beast said with a smile in his voice.
"Don't put yourself down Beast." Ukyo said as she smacked another target in the face with her spatula. "This is a fantastic workout." the young female said as she went into a blocking stance and let the next target try to pommel her. The smirk on her lips became a full formed sneer as each punch added to her reserves. When the machine again cocked his arm back, Ukyo grabbed the outstretched limb and judo threw her foe onto the ground and then performed and overhead smash down onto it's chest region.
The metal plating buckled from the impact as a massive dent formed the center of a small impact crater. The edges of the chest plate had popped out of place with splayed seems. The robot's eyes flickered for a second before they died from loss of power.
But dear reader, do not think that just because the two teenage mutant's foes where dropping left and right that Wild Wolf and Ukyo were not being pushed to their limits. Sweat had stained both of their training garments which now were clinging to them like second skins.
Ran Okami leapt into another robot with his claws digging deep into his target's upper body as the sound of metal whining and electronics shorting sounded the robot's wounds. Wild Wolf pulled back is arms with a grunt and took a breath.
"Chestnuts Roasting Over Open Fire!" The young Logan's clawed fists blurred as the robot's insides were torn into shrapnel. The dull groan of bending metal resounded as the immense pummeling the robot received made it's body look like the surface of the moon.
Wild Wolf had to stop for a moment and wipe the sweat off his brow. This split-second pause was all that another robot needed to launch a steel tentacle from it's wrist and grab Wild Wolf around the neck. With a sharp jerk, Wild Wolf found himself flying backwards grabbing at the cord chocking him.
As the young Logan was being pulled along by his foe, Ukyo was slammed in the side by a fast-moving set of fists. Ukyo didn't budge though; instead she just let the fists keep coming. With each new hit, Ukyo's muscles were growing and becoming more and more defined.
"Got you now." Ukyo thought to herself for a second. "Hey looser catch these!" With the skill earned by practice and training, the energy absorbing mutant whipped out two minispatulas and threw them with all her stored up energy behind them. One exploded through the cord holding Wild Wolf like a bullet through a plate-glass window causing the young Logan to be unceremoniously dropped on his butt. Before Wild Wolf had the chance to free himself, the other spatula had become imbedded in the forehead of target with only the handle sticking out from between the eyes.
The robot was now dead on it's feet with it's head forced back at a disturbing angle; looking as if it would at any moment drop off the back.
"Thanks for the save Uchan." Wild Wolf said as he got to his feet.
"No problem Ranchan." Ukyo smiled as she sliced the head of the robot that had been attacking her with one fluid pass of her battle spatula.
Ran Okami smiled as he grabbed the metal cord that had been strangling him a moment earlier, and chunked it at the last robot in the room. Going out like a lasso, the cord wrapped itself around the torso of it's target and added pinned the foes limbs to it's side. Wild Wolf charged at his foe as fast as he could, then leapt into the air as he pulled his arm back with claws bear. Instead of coming down right on the target, however, Wild Wolf came down on the robot as his blades arced down and through the neck.
Less than a moment later, the robot's head dropped with a dull thud as Ran Okami landed on his knee with the tips of his bone blades just touching the grounds. Getting up and bopping the joints in his neck, Ran Okami turned to face Ukyo while retracting his claws back into his forearms.
"Thanks for the save Uchan." Ran Okami shyly smiled as he scratched the back of his head.
"Hey no problem Ranchan." Ukyo smiled. "So does that mean that I won the bet?" The young lady asked as she leaned on her battle spatula with her hand over the top of the handle.
"No chance Uchan and you know it." Wild Wolf teased. "I destroyed more of those robots than you did."
"True." Ukyo cutely smirked. "You did destroy more robots than I did...but..."
"But?"
"That wasn't what we bet on." Ukyo smiled with the look of "I know something you don't" plastered all over her face.
"Okay?" Ran Okami was at a complete loss as to what the closest thing he had to a sister was saying.
"You said who could beat their old record first." Ukyo said as she held up her finger like a teacher lecturing a student. "And I demolished mine, while you only met par."
"Oh come on Uchan give it up." Wild Wolf groaned as the slapped himself in the face.
"Which means...I WON!" Ukyo proceeded to bounce around for joy for several seconds. During this time the robot that was still standing, though still destroyed, dropped to the ground with a dull clang. This mimicked well the feeling now going through Ran Okami's mind.
"I can't believe she's right." the teenage Logan groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, okay...I can believe that I'm admitting this...but you win." Ran Okami said doing a sigh that even Charlie Brown couldn't do.
"Yep I did. Come on Ranchan let's go clean up and get something to eat." Ukyo was now skipping as she headed to the door out of the Danger Room.
"Well my dear chum it would seem that Ukyo is going to be in good spirits for quite some time." Beast chuckled over the com unit. "Don't worry about the mess Wild Wolf; I'll want to go over the damage myself before doing any cleanup work."
"Thanks Beast." Ran Okami said as he just slumped his shoulders and made his way out.
It was a few minutes afterward that we see Ukyo giddy as well...lets just say that she's were someone as happy as she is should be. Said happy Ukyo was enjoying herself as she ate her lunch and watched TV. The male teenage member of the family on the other hand was at the moment had his head down staring at his lunch.
"Ah cheer-up Ranchan." Ukyo said as she rubbed her "brother's" back. "You didn't really lose the fight...I mean how many times have we actually faced off against robots?"
"Technically every time that we've actually used the Danger Room we've gone up against robots of one time or another." Wild Wolf sighed. "But yea." The point had to be considered, but that didn't do much for the young Logan's wounded pride.
"So it's not that you did any worse..." Ukyo smiled as she bite into her meal.
"As you've gotten better." Ran Okami finished as he looked up at his adopted sister's smiling form. "I guess you're right, but...well great job Uchan."
"Thanks Ranchan." Ukyo smiled as she turned the TV in the kitchen on to see if she could find anything worth watching on.
And what of those strange voices Professor Xavier mentioned earlier my dear readers? We find the shadowy forms of armed men positioned around the campus. The silenced sound of their foot falls made barely a whisper as they stalked the now mostly still early night.
At that moment inside the mansion we see Professor Xavier calmly sitting by a lit lamp with a large volume held within his hands. The aged telepath was enjoying said novel within the quite comforts of his home after the work of the day was finished and before he had to retire to bed. Sadly something was about to put a crimp in said plans.
"Ring...Ring...Ring..." The telephone at the desk broke Xavier's train of thought as he lowered the book in his hands and looked around for a second.
"Now who would be calling at this hour of the night?" In reality it would have been a simple task of trying to read the sender's mind, but that would take a while in finding the actual person if he tried to search the entire world. Compare that to the simplicity of lifting the phone off the hook...well you get the idea.
"Hello Xavier's School For the Gifted. Professor Xavier speaking."
"Xavier we got a problem." Col. Fury said over the line.
"Yes Colonel what help may I be to you?" Professor Xavier was slightly set back at the call, since SHEILD rarely ever called upon his talents.
"It's not that you can help me with a problem. You got one of your own."
"Really? And what would that be?"
"I just got off the line with General Hawk. It seems that our favorite psychopath in a blue mask has taken a special interest in one of your staff and his family."
"Yes Logan told me of his previous encounter with the eccentric Cobra Commander. But tell me of what importance is it to us at this point?"
"Cobra has apparently been watching Logan and his family closely for a long time and believe me when I say that this is no idle threat." Fury stopped for a second as he inhaled on his cigar. "But we always figured that he would have to be an idiot to attempt something with your telepathic powers around."
"Well I wouldn't say that my home is impenetrable Colonel, but I take it something has changed?"
"Last night one of our deep cover agents informed G.I.Joe that Cobra had developed mental blockers against telepathic powers along with some sort of super coversent." Fury replied as he let Professor Xavier figure it out.
"I see, how effective are this...blockers?"
"They prevent most brainwave penetration both ways, but a few out our...consultants say that some thoughts still get out...no more than a word or two once in a while."
Professor Xavier took a deep breath for a second.
"I see." Professor Xavier said as he placed a hand on his temple. "Do you have any idea what exactly they are planning?"
"My guess would be revenge." Fury said. "And with what we say in Japan during your vacation..."
"Thank you for the call Colonel Fury, I'm sorry but at this moment their are things I need to attend to." Professor Xavier said as he was about to put the phone down.
"Look Xavier if things get out of hand SHEILD's ready at a moment's call...10 against an army doesn't sound like good odds even if it's the X-Men."
"I am no fool Colonel, but we mutants can prove to be more than capable of dealing with out own problems." Xavier said. "Still thank you for the call and if need be I know I can reach you."
"Got ya Xavier." the phone cut off as both men hung up.
Professor Xavier tilted his head back slightly and focused on the sleeping minds of his mixed-matched family.
"This is a class-one emergency message to everyone. Meet me in the War Room in no later than 10 minutes. I repeat this is a class-one emergency not a drill."
"Got it Professor." Jean said as she telekinetically threw the covers off her self and Scott. Said optic blasting mutant was having a very difficult time not taking a quick glance at the mostly nude form of his hot as a two dollar pistol girlfriend.
"Come on people we've got to get going." Iceman yelled as he passed by the couple's room while sliding along on a sheet of ice as Polarus floated over his shoulder.
Within seconds Cyclops and Marvel Girl were racing down to the secret elevator entrance to the inner sanctum of the X-Mansion. The well practiced and movements of the team were as precision clockwork, exact in their timing and working without flaw. Well not entirely without flaw.
"Hold the car will ya." Angel yelled as he rushed into the hallway, flying as fast as he could. He stopped in front of the human, or rather mutant, version of a sardine can.
"Angel what kept you?" Cyclops asked as he gave the teenage millionaire a look stern enough to send shivers down most people's backs. The door shut before an answer could be given.
"Give it a rest Cyclops." Angel said as he felt his wing brush-up against someone. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to get into uniform with these wings?"
The door opened as the X-Men poured into the downstairs hallway and ran into the War Room where Professor Xavier awaited them with Wolverine and Nodoka.
"Okay Professor we're here." Cyclops said as he steped forward.
"Good Scott." Professor Xavier's face was without his usual smile as an air of worry seemed to flow from him. "Now..."
Before the Professor could finish, Beast, Wild Wolf, and Ukyo made their way into the room and stood with the other member's of the X-Men.
"we have a big problem." Professor Xavier wheeled up to the control desk situated in the middle of the room. "No more than ten minutes ago I was informed that an old enemy certain members of our team have come into possession of two things which have allowed them to cover themselves from my mental powers and from even the most acute mutant senses."
Pressing a button on the table a holographic red image comes into view.
"Cobra? What would they want with us? I mean we haven't fought them or anything?" Iceman said scratching the back of his ice-covered head.
"True the X-Men haven't battled them before Bobby. However, myself and my family were pivotal in their defeat when they attacked the Pit." Nodoka said as she adjusted the strap of her sheath across her back.
"Can't you go anywhere without getting into a fight?" Angel asked Wild Wolf.
"Can you go five seconds without annoying every living thing around you?" the teenage Logan replied in a hushed tone.
"Wild Wolf, Angel, is there something that you wish to share with the rest of us?" Professor Xavier asked knowingly.
"Ah no sir."
"No Professor."
"Good. Now since it is known to everyone here now that we have been under observation for the better part of a month without any evidence as to the power or number of our opponent we must use what we know about our foe."
"Lets see...Cobra Commander is a complete whack-job with world domination on his mind along with revenge." Ukyo pointed out.
"Though completely insane, he's as cunning as the snake that he takes his name from." Wild Wolf added.
"He also seems that he is incredibly petty Charles, and would probably use a vast number of vehicles and men in an attempt to overwhelm us." Nodoka said as she scratched her chin in thought.
"Indeed." Professor Xavier pondered the keen observations of those around him. "However we now have a very distinct advantage."
"What advantage could we possibly have?" Iceman asked as he blinked our of pure ignorance.
"I think what the Professor is getting to is that they no longer have the advantage of us not knowing that we're about to be attacked." Cyclops pointed out as he pulled up an overhead view of the X-Mansion. "And I'm guessing that they have already scoped out our defenses with the advantage of being undetectable to your mental powers Professor."
"As well as you Logan are unable to smell them out. So we'll have to trick them into actually coming in." Xavier smiled as he rested his hand on the controls of his chair. The response of most of the X-Men was pure shock.
"What?" the voices of several of those gathered said.
"Our best bet is to use our internal security systems to trap them in here with us, more specifically I want to lure them into the Danger Room." Professor X said as he rolled to the command station.
As the telepath stopped at the console, he pressed several buttons which activated video screens all across the room.
"While I remain here I will need all of you to positioned across the mansion." Professor X said as he sat back for a second. "Unfortunately without my mental powers to rely on, I am more of a handy cap in the mansion."
"Okay Chuck. So what kind of trap are we going to be setting here?" Wolverine smirked.
"One in which we will make sure that a certain egotistical tyrant learns that the X-Men are more than a force to be reconded with."
The black stillness of the Mansion's exterior was silent as a tomb; only the sudden and rapid movements of shadowy figures jumping and running across the exterior broke the peaceful night scene.
Garbed in black from head to toe, these villains swiftly and stealthily made it to a small window located on the second level of the mansion climbing with the aide of their palm claws. One figure pulled out a small little cube of what could have been a rubber eraser and pulled off a few small pieces. The grey material was placed at points around the window. Placing the cube back into a hidden pocket, the intruder pulled out a small electrical device and plugged it's two electrodes into the grey plastic stuff. Pressing the on button, a red LED light went on and awaited the signal to activate it's current.
When done, the group headed to the roof and removed the covering for the ventilation systems. Each of the men then held a grenade and pulled the pen. As a strange green gas began to escape, they dropped the metal cylinders. Waiting several seconds, they placed on their masks and followed into the dark and unlit home.
So far the mission was going like clockwork for them; no resistance, no evidence of their detection...it was a cake walk. This opinion was heightened as the group split apart and one happened to come across the motionless form of a man in blue spandex with yellow gloves and boots. Slowly leading with his right hand, with his left on his sword, the dark clad assailant hovered over the body and began to roll it over...
"And I thought these mutants were supposed to be powerful foes." he thought to himself as the head began to roll his way, only...
SHOOOM!!!
A crimson beam shot straight up and into the trespasser's chest, slamming him into the ceiling with enough force to break several ribs, and knock him out.
Cyclops got up and removed the gas mask from his face.
"Excellent work Scott. Now remember team don't use your communicators and let me be your eyes." the familiar voice of one Charles Xavier mentally spoke
"Understand Professor." Cyclops said as made sure the man was out like a light.
The other intruders had made their way further into the home and had grouped themselves at Ran Okami's room. As they checked his bed, they were in for a shock.
"Well hello there punks. Looking for me?" Wild Wolf said a the door flipping the light switch and smirking.
Now illuminated these thugs didn't look like any Cobra agents, rather these were the assents of stereotypical ninja
"There he is."
"Get him."
"Your funeral punks." Wild Wolf said as he unleashed his claws and took a defensive stance. The ninja's attacked with practiced precision and absolute skill; definitely the real thing.
Katana blades sliced the air making deadly hissing noises. Wild Wolf ducked low and used a leaping spin kick to one of the ninja's temples. As his other leg cleared the ground, it was nearly severed by another ninja slicing low.
"I don't know what you said but you never fight one X-Men without fighting every X-Men." Iceman said as he unleashed a frozen beam at his targets. One ninja found himself trapped in a solid block of ice, but two other escaped by hanging from the ceiling.
"They are awake. Activate plan B." the leader ninja said as a small signaling device was activated.
Several miles away we see Cobra Commander, Destro, and Baroness sitting at a wooden table heard the beeping sound from a speaker.
"Well my friend it seems that your forces weren't up to the job alone. I dare say that I am unimpressed with there skills." Cobra Commander said to a hidden figure lurking in the shadows.
The unseen accomplice to the head of Cobra didn't remove himself from his spot, but the brief flicker of a purple cape in the background and the sound of metal scrapping against metal said loads.
"Do not patronize me Cobra Commander; I don't take such mocking well." He said facing his current ally. "Do you not think that such was planned for? If only a handful of mutants handled your forces so easily, what do you think the whole team is capable of?"
"Not to mention my dear Commander that this is merely a distraction. Artillery commence firing on my order." Destro yelled into a microphone. At the Scotsman's command cannons opened up their deadly power at the X-Mansion.
Within such mansion Wild Wolf was having his hands full facing against these targets. With every thrust and strike he performed on them, they were able to execute a dodge just quick enough to escape the blow. Iceman would have helped but he too had his hands full at the moment as he launched blast after blast of frozen air that slowed down his opponent enough for Bobby to avoid his attacks.
"Okay buddy this has gone on long enough." Wild Wolf said to his foe as the young Logan took a gamble and let his foe strike him with a short thrust attack. The ninja's blade sank into Wild Wolf's flesh and pinned him to the wall.
For a brief moment it would have seemed that Wild Wolf was defeated, but that was folly on the ninja's part. With one fast swipe, Wild Wolf severed the arm and wrist of the ninja, before pulling the sword out of his side and coming down on the ninja's head, not even realizing what he had done.
"What have I..." Wild Wolf paused for a second looking at the lifeless form his enemy. The head and upper right side was separate from the rest of the ninja and the sword in his hand was covered in blood.
"Hey Wild Wolf a little help here!" Iceman cried as more and more ninja swarmed at him.
The teary eyes of Wild Wolf began to fill with rage as he gripped the blade in his hands as if he was going to crush it. "DAMN YOU BASTARDS WHY CAN'T WE JUST BE LEFT ALONE!" Wild Wolf yelled as he charged like a maniac at the amassed foes around his friend. So startled at this were the deadly warriors of the night that they left themselves completely open to attack, but not from Wild Wolf.
Iceman took the time given and concentrated his powers then...CHEEECK. The air froze around him instantly trapping each and every opponent around him in a thick sheet of ice.
"Good distraction buddy... hey you okay man?" Iceman asked as Wild Wolf stopped right in front of the captured mass of ninicles.
"Yea...I just...I.."
"Yea I know, but they're trying to kill us so lets argue morality later." Iceman said as he placed a hand on Wild Wolf's shoulder as the teenage Logan dropped the sword.
BOOM! The entire Mansion rocked with the force of artillery impacts.
"Yea later." Wild Wolf said as he and Iceman left the frozen clump of black suited foes behind them and headed to where the fight was going on.
Outside Jean Grey and Polaris were holding the line while the telekinetic shield around them was getting a pounding.
"How much longer can you hold on?" Polarus asked as she used her powers to toss the HISS tanks around like tennis balls.
"Not much..."
"Hold as long as you can red." Wolverine said as he came Adamentium claws forward into the fray. "The cavalry's here." The Canadian didn't waist any time making sure that the blue-clad Cobra attackers knew exactly how big a mistake they had just made.
Back at the Cobra base, Cobra Commander's newest ally was now chuckling.
"It would seem that these 'X-Men' are as good at dealing with the most powerful terrorist group in the world as they are with fighting my men."
"Silence you." Cobra Commander sieved with rage. "At any rate I think that it is time to start our next faze of the plan."
"Commander shall I inform Storm Shadow?" Baroness coyly asked.
"By all means Baroness, and do it NOW!" Cobra Commander yelled.
At the mansion, Iceman and Wild Wolf had found themselves in the middle of a war zone.
"Well looks like the parties going strong." Wild Wolf said as he saw that the mansion was now missing a wall.
"Team begin falling back into the mansion, I am about to activate the external defense grid." Professor Xavier said as he pressed several buttons.
"Alright Professor we are heading towards you." Cyclops said as he and Angel made their way to the lower basement.
"Wolverine we need to start pulling back." Jean said as she used her hands to focus the shield.
"I hate running from any fight..." Wolverine replied while he leapt upon a HISS tank and tearing open it like a cat into a catnip mouse. "You get inside I'll keep them off our tails." Wolverine said as he smacked a Viper in the head with his fist before jumping off the tank.
"Cobra Commander they are running back inside the mansion. Do you wish for us to follow?' Major Blud asked.
"Negative. Maintain the perimeter until otherwise told." Cobra Commander replied as he held the microphone to his mouth.
"Commander Storm Shadow is at this moment headed to the target." Baroness said as she slowly and seductively sat down at her spot.
"Good, all is going according to plan." The air was filled with the manic laughter of the lunatic as his blue mask billowed with voice.
At this point Wild Wolf and Iceman were nearly at the entrance to the lower levels of the Mansion...only to find someone had blown the elevator to pieces.
"What the...UUFF." Iceman said as a white-clad ninja with a red serpent head on his back nailed him in the head with a drop-kick.
"Storm Shadow right?" Wild Wolf smirked. "Snake-Eyes told me about you." the young Logan said as he and the Grandmaster ninja started to circle one another.
"Indeed. And you are the famous Ran Okami Logan...the Wild Wolf." Storm Shadow's voice was stern and serious, though not cold or venomous. "I have seen your fighting prowess before young one and you impress me. I can see why my sword brother would consider you to be the heir to our style. I would be honored to see your skills in person."
Storm Shadow pulled his two katanas from his back and twilled them around in his hands with skill and grace that made the deadly contest seem as if it was nothing more than a delicate dance. Wild Wolf was not fooled by the display and unleashed his bone claws.
"Prepare yourself." Storm Shadow said as he lashed out with a double fanged attack slicing his swords down and then forward aimed at Wild Wolf's side. The mutant only had a split second to react and was just barely able to dodge the attack.
Wild Wolf did a series of back flips and jumped onto the wall. With both of his feet firmly seated, he lunged forward and down so that he could come back up on his opponent with a devastating uppercut. Storm Shadow anticipated this move and as the young Logan was coming up with his claws, the ninja was able to move out of the way and hit Wild Wolf under the arm with the steel sword blade.
Wild Wolf found himself rolling off to the side of the hall and slamming into a table.
"Okay I wasn't expecting that." Wild Wolf said as he shook his head and attacked again. A sweep kick came at Storm Shadow's legs and almost had the master ninja, only he cart wheeled to the side of the attack and placed one of his swords back into it's sheath freeing a hand he used to grab and twist Ran Okami's arm and slamming the mutant into the floor.
Getting back on his feet, Wild Wolf decided that was enough.
"CHESTNUTS ROASTING OVER OPEN FIRE!" Wild Wolf's punches with blinding fast as Storm Shadow was attacked, and even with is ninja level speed, several of the punches hit hard and the claws tore into his sides.
"It would seem that you are everything that I expected." Storm Shadow said as he smiled under his mask. With lightning speed the ninja's wrist snapped out several ninja stars heading with deadly accuracy towards our hero. Several of the sharp spinning blades were avoided, however a few of them hit hard and dug into the mutant's chest.
"Okay this is guy's better than I thought." Wild Wolf thought to himself as he pulled the thrown blades from his flesh. Shaking his head, Wild Wolf tried to break the tingling sensation now running through his body. Throwing himself yet again into combat, the sensation was beginning to dissipate as once more adrenaline coursed through Wild Wolf's veins.
"You possess great skill for someone so young Wild Wolf." Storm Shadow said as he ducked and weaved around his opponent's attacks. The Cobra ninja's blades were getting more and more slices into Ran Okami's body, and even though the mutant's healing abilities were able to fix the wounds, something was wrong. Wild Wolf's attacks were getting weaker and sloppier, his eyes were no longer clear and his steps seemed weighted.
"Sad to say that I do not have time to fight you any more." Storm Shadow jump kicked Ran Okami in the head and the mutant for some reason couldn't snap himself out of it to retaliate. With one last pathetic stumble, Ran Okami fell to the ground with his face slamming into the hardwood floor.
"Storm Shadow to Cobra Commander, I have negated the target and now am returning to base."
"Excellent Storm Shadow We will continue to fight until the fools realize too late what is happening." The terrorist said as the ninja lifted his unconscious opponent up and headed towards the window marked earlier. As he ran, he pressed a button which caused the window to explode outward and a Cobra jetpack to automatically launch up. Storm Shadow jumped into the sky with his target strapped to his chest and caught the jetpack which automatically launched onto him firmly. The bright red and yellow contrail of the jetpack soared into the sky and into a large air-based transport.
"Ah Storm Shadow you seem to have brought us a guest." Dr. Mindbender smiled cruelly as the open doorway to the outside closed.
Zarrana walked up and took a look at the limb head of Wild Wolf. "Well are you cute there little guy. Don't do anything too bad to him Mindbender, it would be a shame if this guy got all messed up in one of your experiments."
"I assure you Zarrana I have no intention of messing anything up about this particular warrior. Quickly get him to my lab for transport back to our base. The sedative may be wearing off as we speak." the bald madman said as he pointed down to the main portion of the vessel.
Wild Wolf found himself locked in irons several hours later in a cold and dank room. His eyes were quickly clearing along with the rest of his body. His legs didn't really agree with him though as he tried to get up, falling again and again to his knees.
"What? Where am I." Wild Wolf asked as he shock his head back and forth several times to regain his senses.
A large metal door opened in front of him as he tried yet again to find his footing.
"Ah if it isn't our honored guest Ran Okami Logan." Cobra Commander said as he walked into the foul room, making it even fouler in Wild Wolf's opinion.
"What do you want venom breath?" Wild Wolf spat at his capture.
"I will ignore the outburst, as it is clear that you are out of sorts at the moment." Cobra Commander said as he walked in front of the young mutant. "But to answer your question young man, you owe me big time for my defeat in Georgia and my subsequent defeat in Japan."
"I owe you nothing." Wild Wolf replied. "You attacked me and I kicked your butt just like I'm going to do now." Wild Wolf strained against the iron chains holding him back. His claws jutted out of his arms and tried to slice through the heavy metal, only to fail.
"My, what spirit the boy has, and what courage too." Cobra Commander chuckled, before kicking Wild Wolf in the face and smacking him to the ground.
"Now that that is out of the way. I think that it is important that you see why we were able to get so close to you this time."
"You got lucking, and it's going to run out."
"Perhaps my boy, but even still you have to realize that if it wasn't for someone close to you, who knew everything about you and your family, then we never would have been able to capture you at all. You're probably thinking about who this traitor could be...who would have known the exact abilities you have and those of the rest of the X-Men. Who possibly could you have trusted with this information, and then gave it to me?"
"BS, you just watched us from afar that's all." Wild Wolf said as he finally was able to get to his feet.
"Oh no I'm telling you the truth. Let me show you who is responsible for your current living accommodations..."
"Who Dr. Frankenstein?" Wild Wolf joked.
"It was I you freak." The voice was unmistakable, but it couldn't be. Another figure walked into the room adorn in royal violet from head to toe on top of his gleaming metal armor. Blades covered his forearms, shins, and elbow pads. The helmet and faceplate he wore left only his eyes visible. "As if a half gaijen mutant as yourself could even hope to become a true member of the Foot Clan."
"Saki? Oroku Saki?' Wild Wolf asked.
"You may call me...The Shredder..." The ninja removed his helmet and faceplate to remove any doubt whatsoever. "and it is about to become very bad to be you."
To be continued...
In the next chapter of Through the Years...why has Oroko Saki allied himself with Cobra, and what do they have in store for Ran Okami. Stay tuned for more updates in the following months.
Author's Notes: Okay people I'm sorry this is late, but it was long and I have a full time job and a night school class as I'm trying to get into the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for Grad School in Paleontology. This story is going to have to take a back seat though as I finish the side story to it and do more to Harry Potter and the Half Bloods. Please be kind enough to review and feel free to add any advice that you want.