The Hunter and the Hunted
This is my third fan fic using the Elder Brothers, but it's set in an alternate universe and I don't own any of the Marvel X-Men characters. No profit is being made on this fan fiction and I don't own anything anyway. In my movie verse, Victor and James never worked for Stryker. Stryker, Scott, Jean, Deathstrike, John Wraith, and the Professor are all alive and well.
I would also like to give a special thanks to GypsyWitchBaby for letting me borrow her Lupa character. She is a bit different here, but it's the same Lupa you'll all know and love from The Feral and The Dreaming Animal.
Rex, Medusa, Nina, Mika, Banger, Gaza, Black Bear, Grizzly, Hannock, and Haggar are creations of my crazy little mind. As are all the members of the Packs and Clans.
I'm in the process of finding a beta reader. This is a non beta read story. There will be spelling, grammatical, and context errors. I'm writing these stories for pure pleasure and my own brand of therapy from the real world. I am Dyslexic and truly can't "see" some of the glaring errors that offend some readers. If you can't stand spelling mistakes, grammatical error, and words used in the wrong context – my stories might not be for you. If you are interested in being a beta reader, please let me know.
Summary: Someone is hunting down Feral Mutants. Can the X-Men help and get to the bottom of this mystery before more Ferals disappear?
Chapter 11: Stryker's Account (Revised)
The Hunters were left to guard over Stryker and Falcona while the Clans ate. They were all sicken with what they had seen.
Yuri almost hadn't been able to wait until Victor and Lupa were out of ear shot to start vomiting. The bile was hot in her throat. Everyone was going to SEE her shame and know it firsthand. Oh God, she didn't know if she could take it. It had been bad enough to tell Victor and Lupa her tale, but to have EVERYONE see if from Stryker's eyes. She was shaking and the silent tears were coming faster now. She hadn't noticed the other's Feral until she was touched on the shoulder gently. Yuri jumped a good six feet into the air and landed with her claws out. She was facing the Elder Tigress. She opened her mouth but nothing came out; only more tears.
Tigress hadn't meant to intrude upon Yuriko's privacy, but was concerned that the Woman was ill when she heard the sounds of sickness. The woman before her was shaking like a leaf. "Little Sister what is wrong?" She asked. Tigress also noted that Yuriko's claws were the SAME substances as The Seeker's. Oh, this explained quite a bit. They had all assumed only The Seeker's body had been violated. Yuriko had also experienced more of this Human's care than they had been told.
Yuriko's head was shaking and her eyes were still tearing. Tigress was aware that Medusa and Dragon Fly were behind Yuriko, but Yuriko hadn't noticed them yet. "I had not realized that Scanner literally takes memories from a person's head and shows them to the group. Oh God. Everyone is going to know my SHAME and DISGRACE and see it from that Monsters eyes. Stryker had cameras in the cages. You will see all of it, from the beatings, to the assaults, mating in front of that Thing, to the room that burned my bones. It was bad enough when I had to give Victor and Lupa an Account verbally. You must think me a foolish child for getting so upset about the past. I am not clean and you will all see that for yourselves. I am completely unworthy to be James' Mate." She was shaking again. Tigress just took the woman in her arms and rocked her while softly purring. The other two women joined her and that's when Yuriko became aware of them and she sought to hide her face. Medusa wouldn't allow it and Tigress she spoke for the group.
"Yuriko – you do NOT have shame or disgrace in these Events; the shame and the blame belong to Falcona and Stryker. We will see to it that what should remain private is not shown during the open Clans Council."
Yuriko started. "But how..it has to be a full account to.." She was cut off by Medusa.
"We don't need to see anything that should have happened between a Mated pair during Privacy. We are all Mated my Sister and we understand that you and James Mated while in the cages. You are James' Mate and you ARE CLEAN Yuriko. The Elder Brother waited a long time for YOU. You Little Sister have strength in you and you survived that horrible place! We will speak to the other Elders and as Aria has said, things that should remain private WILL remain private. If there is something that would cause you or James embarrassment; it shall remain private. This will include all of all of Gaza's actions, or any actions of the guards – none of it needs to be shown to the Council. Our Brother Rex doesn't deserve it to see the details of his Granddaughters deaths; we will honor Mika and Nina's memories and avenge their deaths. Dry your eyes Little Sister. Sit with James. I'm sure your present is a comfort to him even in sleep. We will address your concerns before the Council reconvenes." Yuriko nodded and left the women. They all looked at each other and headed for the other Elders.
Rex had noticed Yuriko's departure from Lupa and Victor. He had an idea what was troubling the young woman. He approached the remaining Elders. "A Word Elders, if you please?"
Black Bear, Wild Thing, Hammer Head, Grizzly, and Mad Dog all turned towards him. Rex took a deep breath. His request was going to be unorthodox, but it was going to be necessary. "Once the other Elders return, we will need to speak with them as well. I recommend that we only "see" visions from Stryker's mind that would not violate any Pack Members privacy, such as Yuriko, James, Mika or Nina's. We don't need to see firsthand any abuse of our Pack Members in graphic details or activities that should have happened in Privacy. This would cause The Seekers Mate a GREAT deal of discomfort if everything were shown in an open Council. This man Stryker had cameras in the cages that held them. It would disgrace US if we didn't avoid such private images."
Mad Dog had very good hearing and he knew what the women were saying. He spoke. "Agreed. The Little Cat is puking in the bushes over the thought of it right now. We don't need to add to her distress in this trial. The other Elders are attending to her and have come up with the same solution. Victor would kill if those images were shown anyway. I believe we are all agreed to by pass any images that would cause shame or embarrassment to any of our Pack Members? The Silence will extend to Stryker's Accounts as well"
All of the Males agreed. While no one said anything, they all still remember how skittish Yuriko was around Feral Males. She was getting better and getting use to them. Fear didn't scent the air nearly as much as it had. She was facing her fears even to be on the Clans Council in her Mate's place. It was becoming clear to them all that Yuriko had had a very bad experience with a Feral Male. It was also clear it had happened while she was in Stryker's 'care' and they were about to see the source of her fears for themselves. The Females were walking over and were about to speak when Black Bear simply stated. "We agree. No images that should remain private will be shown in open Council. The Silence will be extended to Stryker's Accounts and maintained by the Clans Council. The Hunter Scanner will pledge to maintain the Silence as well. Yuriko, James, Mika, and Nina's privacy will not be violated by us while viewing Stryker's Accounts. Victor will not object to this course of action. I will speak with him upon his return before we start. I will instruct Scanner in his new directions now while we are on break." The matter was settled. The Females shared with the Males that James was not the only one to have a metal skeleton and claws.
On the Blackbird:
Scott, Ororo, Hank, Charles, Nick and Wraith all wanted to know how James was doing. They followed after Victor and Lupa to the ship. Witch Doctor wasn't pleased with the large group, but after her Green gaze had passed over all of them; she allowed them to see James from a few minutes. He was still asleep. They were not to touch him in anyway. Infection was still a concern. After 5 minutes, she told the group to leave. They all followed her instructions and left to get something to eat.
Lupa and Victor ate on the ship. Victor was still angry. Jimmy had been SO right about the Falcon Bitch. He should have listened and he should have pushed the issue. In all years on the Clans, Jimmy had never voted against someone; only Falcona had that honor. Yuri entered the ship and all of the Ferals turned to her in concern. She smelled sick. Haggar stopped her first. "What ails you Child?"
Yuri was embarrassed but told them. "My nerves got the better of me. I threw up in the bushes but I'm better now." Haggar's eyes were Green and her appraising gaze passed over Yuri's entire body. Haggar wouldn't let her near her Mate if she carried any sickness. Haggar's gaze didn't find any sickness, so she let Yuri sit with James. Victor was still studying her as he ate.
"Yuri – ya need to eat. What else is troubling ya? And why did the other Elders touch ya?" He could smell the scents of Tigress, Medusa, and Dragon Fly on her. The other Elders had touched her and he was going to know why.
Yuri was blushing a bright red. Well Shit Victor thought, clearly he was missing something. Lupa however understood and spoke. "You are concerned about the visions that will be shown from William Stryker's mind; specifically the images from the cages?" Yuri was becoming an even brighter shade of red.
Victor cursed. He had NOT thought of that little detail. Lupa had thousands of hours of camera footage from the cages. She hadn't had a chance to review all of it yet. Victor was sure that Yuri and Jimmy's cage was on film as well. He was going to speak when Yuri spoke up. "The other Elders said what should remain private WILL remain private and NOT be shown in the open Council if you agree." She was looking at him with pleading eyes and unshed tears.
Victor still didn't touch Yuri without a direct invitation (and none had been given), so he answered. "I agree Little Sister and I will thank them for addressing my oversight." Lupa went over to Yuri and hugged her. Haggar turned away to hide her own unshed tears. "Eat something and rest. I'm gonna go for a quick run. I need ta run off some energy. I'll meet ya and Lupa back at the Meadow Clearing." Victor left the ship. He would make sure Scanner also understood that what he had "seen" would NEVER be spoken of again. It was unusual for one an Elder to execute more than one prisoner, but he was going to ask for the privilege of KILLING both Stryker and the Falcon Bitch if Jimmy wasn't awake by that time and strong enough to do it. He didn't think Yuri should have to do it either, but if she wanted the honor he wouldn't stand in her way. They both would die for the injustices they had visited upon HIS Family.
Victor started to run on all fours the second he was off the ship. He really did need to burn some energy or he would KILL Falcona and Stryker before the end of the trial.
The other Elders noticed Victor's actions. After a quick exchange, Mad Dog and Grizzly ran themselves to catch up. They didn't let their own walk alone and this place might still not be safe. It was better to travel in a pack. They talked as they ran. Victor thanked them for their foresight with Stryker's part of the trail and addressing his oversight. Both Elders said it was no problem and not worth mentioning again. They all ran at least 30 miles, in 30 minutes. The X-Men watched them in amazement as they circled the area silently and very fast.
Charles wanted to speak to the Clans but felt it would be better to do so after the trial was completed. All of the Elders were disturbed by Falcona's actions. An angry Feral was a dangerous Feral.
The trial reconvened and everyone took their places back on the chairs. Falcona would also be part of the link this time. She still couldn't speak but she would see the evidence against her in Stryker's mind. Scanner linked everyone to Stryker and the second part of the trial began. Stryker's son Jason was a Mutant and his Mutant son was responsible for his Wife's death. Xavier hadn't helped the boy at all. He was still a Mutant. Well, Stryker was going to take of Jason. He would never hurt another Human again nor would any of the other Mutants. No. It was time he cleansed the world of the Mutant problem. After all he was a man of science and Mutation was a disease that could be wiped out or controlled with proper "medicine". Yes, his genetics Lab was about to get a new purpose. He would solve this growing Mutant Problem and stop it before it began. He just needed to find the perfect Weapon. A Mutant that could hunt its own Kind, but be under this complete control. He would start with Mutant runaways. He was sure several decent Human beings wouldn't tolerate having a Mutant at home and would throw the Mutant demon spawn out. He would capture and study these Mutants. He would find a way to make them harmless to Humans. Yes, this would be his greatest achievement. The World would thank him and praise his work.
Scanner moved forward. He had found several hundred Mutant children, but none of them were good for a Weapon. He would kill the weak ones outright to reduce his population. He would continue his experiments on combining mutations. He would loss a few Mutant children in the process, but they were free test subjects, so could afford it. He had been approached by a strange Woman. He used the term Woman loosely; he was beginning to think it was a Mutant. He would watch it, but the Woman wanted to give him some special Mutants called Ferals. The Woman said they would make excellent weapons. How the Woman had come to know about him; he didn't know. What she was offering was a subcategory of Mutants that were more animalist in nature; it was a lucky break. These Mutants were ALREADY animals and would make for perfect Weapons. Most of these Ferals also came with a specific mutation that would allow them to live longer in his Labs; these subjects came with Healing Factors. They could Heal from ANYTHING. He would take a team of soldiers to retrieve this Woman's enemies; two sisters both Feral Mutants. The Male Mutant with them would have to be killed. It only made plants grow, not a very useful mutation and certainly not one that could be made into a weapon. The eldest female, according to the Woman, could become a small dinosaur. Now that could be a good weapon, strong skin. The younger female would keep her sister in line.
Scanner moved forward in Stryker's mind. Yes, the Feral Mutant Falcona, was a great source for getting these Feral Mutants. She was a traitor to her Kind, but as long as she provided him with more subjects. He didn't care. One day, Falcona would take her place in his Lab. He would enjoy taking the stupid animal apart. Now that Stryker knew about the Ferals. They were his top targets among the Mutant populations. The only problem was Ferals were rare. They also hid themselves VERY well and actively searched out for their own kind. He had only managed to capture one without Falcona's help. A male that called itself Gaza; Gaza was now called M1. M1 apparently knew the Sisters F1 and F2. M1 wouldn't mate with either F1 or F2. Stryker was going to have to breakdown that resistance. He wanted the ability to breed these Ferals, so he wasn't dependent on Falcona for his population of Ferals. He would graft other mutations on the Ferals from the other Mutant Children. He had perfected the technique at the cost of 25 Mutant subjects. Fortunately unlike other Lab animals, he didn't have to pay for these subjects. He just had to catch them.
Scanner moved forward again. Falcona had provided him a picture this time. She really wanted him to kill this one. This Feral Female was beautiful and Japanese. It looked Human if you didn't catch the strange eye color. It sicken Stryker that some of these Animals could pass for Human. He would use that to his advantage. His Weapons needed to be able to move in plain sight. Falcona wanted this one dead, but F3 was going to be Dam to all Stryker's future weapons. Falcona's babblings about F3 being "The Mate of The Seeker" was irrational ranting. Stryker had no intention of destroying this lovely creature; no he was going to breed it. It healed on a level he had never seen. His soldiers had gotten a little carried away and injured it while bring it back to the Labs. Stryker was furious; he would have to wait until it healed to being his experiments. The soldiers would be punished. He was truly surprised when it arrived at the Labs covered in old dried blood, but no visible injury. He removed a kidney from it and the next day, it had grown back. He needed more of these fast Healers. He needed a Male Healer. He would tell Falcona, he was trying to kill it, but hadn't found a way.
Scanner continued forward again. Falcona was going to give him a Male Healer. Two of them if she could be believed; Falcona called them Elders. Stryker would extract sperm for both of the old men and impregnate both F3 and F2. They could breed his new bunch of Healers using the old men as Studs. F4 hadn't survived the childbirth process, but it had proved that he could accelerate the gestation periods and have a fully grown "baby" in 30 days vs the normal 10 months. Falcona was very concerned about these Elders. She had provided two ancient looking weapons that she call Cleava Blades. One was for the Cat like Elder and the other one was for its Brother; whatever that meant.
Well, Falcona was wrong, but in a good way. Stryker had been at the location to get the Elders. A middle aged Male had been there in the Elders place. It didn't look like a Mutant at all, but Falcona had been adamant the Elders would be here at this time. It had taken all of his men and all of the gas he had to bring this one down. It had killed 10 of his men before a shot to the head had taken it down. He had been furious at first; thinking his men had killed the Feral Male Healer, but then it moved. He didn't have the additional resources to take down another one of these Feral Male Healers. He would have to leave with just the one and not get the two old men. Damn he was missing out on an opportunity to have more Feral Male Healers. Next time he would be better prepared.
M2 was going to be his stud. This health specimen would be mated with F3 and F2. Also F1 if it survived the damage. The condition of F1's arm was not good. The arm would have to be removed eventually. His guards really did get a bit carried away at times. The lost of F1's eye had been bad enough. He had executed those guards to prove a point. They could take liberties with the general Mutant populations, but the Ferals were only to be part of his experiments. They were very hard to replace after all. M2 also looked completely Human. No signs outward of Mutation. Its hair grew in a funny manner and its eyes reflected light back like a cat. It would be the PERFECT weapon. His x-ray had shown it had built in weapons. Retractable claws in its forearm; which was truly remarkable. He was just going to have to BREAK the male and he couldn't castrate it like he had done with some of the other Mutant males. No he needed this one intact in order to breed it.
Scanner moved forward again. The interaction in the cages in VERY telling; these Ferals all know each other. The exception is F3. She is an unknown. His attempts to mate F3 and M1 have been completely unsuccessful. F3 refuses M1 and keeps M1 at bay with its claws. He couldn't declaw F3. He had pulled its fingernails out by the roots and they grow back in less than 3 hours. He couldn't drug F3 either. No, F3 and M1 would not mate voluntarily. He had slated M1 for termination until he noticed it HATES M2. It will continue to exist until he was sure it could no longer serve a purpose in his Labs. F1 and F2 try to share food and water with M2. F3 is following F1 and F2's examples. He would continue to observe these animals. M2 doesn't seem interested in F3 and F3 would go to the far side of its cage to be away from M2. M2 does allow F1 and F2 to attend to it. He would continue to watch and pump M1 and M2 full of male hormones in the Labs. He would get his reactions out of M1 and M2 with the F2 and F3.
Scanner moved forward again. The images started and then Scanner blurred them out again. He brought them back and they could hear crying, purring and see rocking on from a camera's perspective. Stryker watched rather objectively as the guard dragged F3 yet again with no successful mating from M1's cage and dumped it back with F1 and F2. The behavior was interesting the F1 and F2 had claimed F3 as kin. Well now he was going to have to DO something to breakup that little happy family dynamic. He would attempt the Adamantium bonding process on F2. If he could have both unbreakable bones and a hard skin that would make for a nice Weapon. It was worth the risk. He now had another Female Healer and a Male Healer. Since F3 was also protective of F1, F1 would serve the same purpose with F3.
Yuriko was being rocked and purred at by Nina and Mika. Both Sisters were hissing at Gaza. James cage was empty. Yuriko had some very nasty hand prints on her face and neck. They were fading as they watched. James was dragged back to the cages and dumped into the cell next to the Sisters and Yuri vs across the hall with Gaza. All of them went to cage side were James lay half dead and they waited.
Scanner moved again. They were in a Lab. Nina was in a tank with green water in it. The air smelled of hot metal and her screams could be heard. Stryker inquired if they could shut that Feral up? It was hurting his ears. The data wasn't promising F2 wasn't going to survive the Adamantium bonding process. It healed too slowly. He would drag its body back through the cages as a message to all of the inmates. He was also would put F1 and F3 in M2's cage later today after the subjects had seen F2's body. Operation Break was beginning. He would have his mated pair in F3 and M2. He didn't care if F1 lived or not; he wanted a pair to breed.
Scanner moved forward again. They were watching from a camera this time. Yuriko was purring and rocking Mika. Her eye was full of tears. Her missing eye was shut and one of her arms still wasn't working properly. She held on to Yuriko with her little clawed hand from her good arm and cried for her Sister. James joined them on the floor and purred to Mika as well. He held both of them, but made a point not to get close to Yuriko's neck. Yuriko however kept turning her neck to him. Gaza was taken to the Labs. Once Mika had cried herself to sleep, James' gently picked up the Child and put her one of the two bunks in the room. He started speaking to Yuriko in Japanese after having her move over to child's resting area. He moved over by the bars on the other side of the cage. Stryker was pissed. He didn't know this language! He HAD to break M2. It was too smart for his taste. He would have to have it translated for later viewing.
Victor's thought cut to Scanner in the link. "Translate the tapes if you know the language spoken for the group." Scanner did as he was asked and they were back in the cages again.
James was speaking to Yuriko in Japanese. "My Mate – the only way to keep Mika alive is for these guards and man that runs this place to think that you BOTH are children of mine. If the handlers find out Mika is not Family, they will kill her. If they figure out you are my Mate they will do worse than kill you to get to me. That is why I haven't asked ya yur name or done anything to start the Mate-Bond process. I ain't rejecting ya, My Mate. I wish to keep the child and ya alive. We will leave this place and I will come back to it with my Brother and some of the Others from the Clans and we will teach this William Stryker a lesson in Pain before we stand upon his broken bones at our feet. Stryker will die for EVERY drop of Feral and Mutant Blood he has spilled with such disregard. I promise ya that My Mate and I am a man that keeps my promises. What other languages do ya speak?"
Yuriko asked, "Why do pace the cage and exercise at night? Mika and I can share a bunk and you may have one for yourself, My Mate. I know how to write and speak: Japanese, English, Russian, and Chinese. I know a little Spanish and Italian, but can't write it.."
James snorted. "No, I can't be anywhere NEAR ya. When they take me to the Lab they pump my body full of some Shit. I don't know what it is, but I can barely keep my hands to myself and off ya. What little control I have will break if I start takin' in yur scent up close. Ya need to be strong if I can't be. Do ya understand? A cold floor is good me now. Let Mika separate the food and water in the cage. I don't need yur scent on ANYTHING that will be mine. I pace, I recite old books, and exercise to work this shit out of my body; anything to distract myself from yur scent. If it builds up, I won't be able to control myself. I don't want to teach this Human how we Mate nor do I wish to Mate in front of the Child. When I Mate with ya, I want it to be a private affair. I promise it will be worth the wait, My Mate." James eyes had flashed Feral Black with those last words. "We're gonna start only speaking Russian in the cage with Mika. Ya and I will use Japanese only. Now go rest. Gaza must never know what ya are to me. He WOULD betray us at the first opportunity to this William Stryker man. I don't believe Gaza knows either Russian or Japanese. One more thing - Please Darlin' if ya have any feeling for me at all - don't expose yur neck to me again or show me Black eyes?" Yuriko agreed and turned her back on him in the bunk.
James started doing one-armed pushups on the floor. He did some form of exercise all night long. Mika woke up with a start late during the night.
"Elder – will you tell me a bedtime story?" Mika had asked.
The Elder considered the request. "Ok Kitten – I will tell ya a NEW story but there are few conditions that ya must agree to if ya want the story. First the story will only be told in Russian. Second, if ya have questions, ya can ask them in French. It is time for ya to continue yur lessons. Third, ya must lay down on ya bunk and pretend to be asleep as I pace or exercise. There will be no comments on my nightly activities from ya. Fourth, tomorrow ya can only speak in Russian in the cage to both Yuriko and me. If ya can agree, I will provide a story each night of ya choice starting tomorrow with a Special Story tonight. What say ya Kitten?" Mika agreed, but requested that the new story be about the Elder Brothers.
"Why is it, Kitten ya only want to hear about those two Elders? There ARE other Elders ya know?" Everyone could hear the smile in his voice. Mika insisted that none of the other Elders were as COOL as the Elder Brothers, but please don't tell her Grandfather, for he would be crushed. "I will uphold ya secret. Ya have been very good in this place."
James began with his story in Russian, "This is a lesson in Looking before one Leaps; the Story is called Tar and Feathers. It is very old. The Elder Brothers were young men working in a mining camp in the mid 19th century. They had finished work for the day and had gone to the local saloon for drink. They got into an argument and a fight was going to break out. The Elder was stronger than the Younger. However the Younger always used his brain in a fight against the Elder. The Elder charged the poor Younger Brother and at the last possible second the Younger went into a slide that would have done any Baseball player proud. He slid under the Elder and enjoyed the shocked look on the Elder's face as he FLEW over the Younger in a rage. At the proper moment the Younger kicked the Elder in the chest with his legs as he flew overhead. The Elder was thrown into a rain barrel filled with Tar and land in a most undignified heap. To add to his injured pride, the Elder had landed against a window which gave way under his considerable weight and he crashed through the Seamstress store front window. The Seamstress was working on some special bedding and had been making pillows; Feather pillows. The Elder now found himself covered in tar and feathers. His work gloves had ripped so his mighty clawed hands were showing as well. He looked for the entire world to see, like a great big clawed chicken. It was summer so he had on a wide brim pointy hat, which was also covered in tar and feathers. The Brothers had to walk home to clean up and the Elder had to go through town looking like a big clawed chicken. Once the Brothers got home, the Elder quickly found out that he couldn't remove all of the feathers without his Younger Brother's help. The gracious Younger Brother helped to get the tar and feathers off the Elder Brother. Once the tar and feathers had been removed; the Elder looked like a big red plucked clawed chicken standing in his skivvies, what ya call tighty whities or underwear today, with his great knobby knees and sticky chicken legs. It is a little known fact; the Elder has sticky legs that look like a chicken, complete with two clawed feet. To this DAY the Elder doesn't wear short pants if he can avoid it; to hide his unsightly sticky legs and large clawed feet. His clawed feet are very big, similar to Big Bird. Now the Elder was very angry, and was again about to attack his poor Younger Brother. The Younger said 'Wait, Vic..Elder – Isn't this how you got Tarred and Feathered the first place, by leaping before you look?' The Elder paused for minute and agreed, but also stated 'This WHOLE stinkin' situation is ya FAULT and I'm takin' it outta yur hide RUNT!' The Elder began to charge the poor Younger Brother. The poor Younger Brother did the only thing he could do. He ran to the cliffs overlooking the waterfall and jumped off the cliffs. He twisted in mid air and gave his Elder Brother a one clawed salute and shouted 'Elder – I'm gonna check on the traps down river. I'll be back in 3 weeks time.' And then he was gone into the water. The Elder Brother stood at the cliffs edge shaking with a great rage. He couldn't go into the water since he skin was still stripped red and raw. He stood there looking like a great red plucked clawed chicken in his tighty whities with his great knobby knees sticky chicken legs and two large clawed feet. He sharp eyes followed his Younger Brother down the river in the water and he did the only thing he could; he ROARED his rage to the wilderness!"
Mika asked in French "OH! That is a true story! And I am the first to hear it! The poor Younger Brother; it isn't easy being the youngest of a Pack."
James replied in Russian. "No Kitten, it ain't easy being the youngest in a Pack. You ALWAYS have someone older telling ya what to do! No matter HOW old ya get. Believe me on this one, Kitten. I feel yur pain and I am an Elder. Anyway, Kitten for being so helpful in this cage, you have been rewarded with a new Elder Brother story. This story hasn't been told in 150 years. You see after the Younger Brother returned from checking the traps and brought a good numbers of skins home. The Elder Brothers agreed not to speak of the Tar and Feather episode again. Of course the Elder Brother should have requested, Silence on the subject, but since the word NEVER wasn't used. The Younger Brother did share this story with me. It is all true, Elder's Honor! To this day, if the Younger wants to goat the Elder into a fight; he will simply mentioned Tar and Feathers or make a clucking sound like a Chicken. It is guaranteed to start a fight that will have a most shocking display of savagery between the Elder Brothers." James' low laughter could be heard. "If ya uphold yur end of the bargain and only speak Russian in the cages. I'll give ya another NEW Elder Brothers story in 5 days time. It is called the Cat, Curiosity, and the Cannonball. That one is also very old and hasn't been heard by anyone in 120 years! Elder's Honor. Now go to sleep, Kitten."
Choking sounds, snorts, some hissing, and suppressed laughter was heard in the link, and finally Mad Dog said with a great big belly laugh. "Tighty Whities! I must say Victor I'm quite SHOCKED. I never knew the Head of the Clans had been TARRED and FEATHERED? Just which claw did James flip you on his way into the river? And what is this story about the Cat, Curiosity, and the Cannonball?" All of the Elders started laughing; most of the Hunters who dared, all of the X-Men, Fury, and Wraith could all be heard laughing as well. To add insult to injury, Victor could hear Lupa's howl of laughter was well.
Black Bear's voice was heard in the link. "Well is a story of how the Elder Brother met myself and my Mate during the Civil War and Victor had just discovered."
Victor's voice cut thru the link and cut off Black Bear in a very dangerous growl. "Scanner! Bypass any further bedtime stories to Mika! Jimmy is gonna pay for telling that story! Black Bear – I better not hear about the Cat, Curiosity, and the Cannonball!"
"Elder - wouldn't the Elder Brothers' be angry at you for telling such personal tales to Mika." Yuriko inquired softly after the child was asleep.
James replied in Japanese. "I hope to have that problem. Mika's left arm is badly infected; just above the wrist. We're going to have remove it ourselves if we can't find a way out of here. She's beginning to run a fever as it turns poison on her. They give us new bedding in three days. I want ya put it in yur pillow case and leave the old bedding in place. We're gonna need the clean bedding for bandages for her arm. We'll have to take her arm then or she is gonna die." He met Yuriko's eyes and she saw the truth in them. The Child was very sick. Everyone in the link could hear the concern and sadness in James' voice. They were no longer laughing at the embarrassing story to Victor and realized why James' had told it to the Mika. "No, I don't believe either of the Elder Brothers' will have a problem with me telling stories to make a sick Child laugh in a Hell hole like this one. If anything will help Mika hold on, it will be the promise of another NEW Elder Brothers story. Go to bed, my Mate."
Stryker thought the drugs must be working. If I can increase the dose, I'll get my Mated Pair. He would turn up the pressure; once M1 had been drugged with new dosing of the Hormones drug. He would put F1 in the cage with M1. That should anger both F3 and M2 into getting close enough for the drugs to over right M2's control. Yes, that would be a good plan. He might lose F1 in the process, but he was beginning to think it was hindering the natural order between F3 and M2. The Black eyes in particular had always shown on M1 that it was ready to mate. M1 was particularly savage with its Females. Age of its Females didn't matter to M1 either. None of the other Female Mutants without a healing factor had survived the rutting with M1. No, he would need another female with a healing factor and shorter claws to breed with M1. Falcona hasn't provided any Ferals in a while. He was going to have to getting hold of her and get some new Ferals. She had mentioned the Cat Male again Sabertooth and its Mate. Wolfie..Wolf Woman..no it was Wolf Girl. Yes, that was it. Mutants had such funny ways about them and funnier names.
Scanner moved forward again. This time they could only hear the words, but couldn't see the images. Stryker's plan was working perfectly. M2 was very angry indeed. M2's voice cut between the cages. "Ya would disgrace yurself by warming ya bed with a CHILD? We should have kill ya Gaza. Ya better pray ya die is this hole for I WILL kill ya for what ya done this day." Yuri screamed at him to stop as well. Mika never got her New Elder Brothers Story. The Child died in Yuri's arms two days from the first story and one day before the new bedding came to the cages. Yuri had cried herself to sleep, Mika still in her arms. James put his Mate on the bunk.
Scanner moved forward again. They still couldn't see the images, but could only hear Stryker's thoughts. When the clean bedding was shoved through the bars, M2 changed the bunk that bore F1's blood. He hadn't approached the bunks since F1 and F3 had been placed in his cell. M2 then moved F3 to a clean bunk, but didn't wake it. M2 used the other clean sheet to wrap F1's small body in it. He had been right; F1 had been preventing any potential mating between M2 and F3. It was time for more Male Hormones for M2. M2 would attack anything Female that walked by the time he was finished pumping the Hormones in its body.
They shifted again and saw. M2 now considered F3 his property but STILL refused to mate with it. It was time for another trip to the Lab. M2 was going to be fitted with Adamantium today. Once it was done, he would have F3 tossed in the cage with M1. M2's new claws would easily cut the bars and it would retrieve its Mate F3. They should be mated by evening. M1 would be killed but that was the cost of getting a Feral mated pair. Falcona was still angry he hadn't killed M2 or F3. He would lie to it. Tell it, M2 and F3 died in an escape attempt or something. He would make the story believable. He wanted Falcona to lead him to this Sabertooth Feral and his bitch the Wolf Girl. They would be his second Feral mated pair in the cages. He would breed both pairs and cross breed them as well. M2 and F3 would mostly likely be the favored pair. They looked Human after all. According to Falcona the other two Ferals were clearly marked Mutants. The advantage with them was they were already a mated pair and Falcona wanted them dead.
Scanner shifted, they were back in the Lab and James was in the green water tank this time. He was shaking and thrashing in the water and you could see sharp needles all over piercing his skin. The needles were attached to tubes that had a Grayish blue liquid in it that was draining into the needles and going into James until they were empty. He was wide awake, his eyes were Feral Black, and he could not move from where the rope chains held him in place. He had a breathing mask strapped over his face, so you couldn't hear him. Hot metal was in the air. A scientist said. "The procedure is a complete success. The subject has depleted the Adamantium reserves; there is no tissue rejection. Weapon X has been born." The scientists were toasting their success with Champaign. Stryker wanted to get on with the next part of his mating plan. He ordered that Weapon X be tossed back in its cage naked and have F3 put in with M1 but only if Weapon X was awake.
Scanner moved again. Stryker was jumping for joy. He HAD his mated pair. He would enhance the female tomorrow after having gassed the Weapon X. Now that Falcona believed F3 and M2 were dead, she had delivered another Male to him. M3 healing factor was slow, but with the information obtained from Weapon X. Stryker could now enhance a healer's rate of speed. He would try it out on M3 later. He might even breed M3 and F3 along with Weapon X and F3. Yes it was a very good day.
Scanner shifted again but this time they could only hear Stryker's thoughts and didn't see anything. Stryker couldn't believe what he was seeing. Weapon X could have been the perfect angel of Death to the Mutant race. There were only two major problems with his plan: Weapon X had escaped its cage and HE couldn't control it. Weapon X had just executed 30 of his guards to get to the Lab. It had slaughtered another 20 plus guards in the Lab. It was now killing some of his best scientist and worse of all it had just freed Weapon Y. They were both running naked for exit, killing anything that got in their way. They must not be allowed to escape. He ordered Weapon Zero to fire the special bullets he had made for just such an occasion. It was unfortunate; he hadn't had a chance to breed them yet. However, Weapon X and Weapon Y had to die; if they escaped they might bring back these "Packs" that Falcona kept going on about.
He had finally figured the Bird Feral Mutant out. She wanted power. She wanted Stryker to eliminate her opposition in the "Packs" and she would rule them. He would keep up his surveillance on Falcona. He was getting close to the general area of where her "Pack" was located. Once he knew that, he would start removing Feral Mutants one at a time. He would have the whole "Pack" for his cages eventually. He couldn't wait for the look on the Bird Feral's face when everything she had plotted and killed for fell apart at her feet. The other Feral's from her "Pack" might even show Stryker how to kill Falcona quickly. These Feral's were tough to kill after all.
Scanner shifted forward. He couldn't believe it. Weapon X and Weapon Y might have been the only ones of their Kind and he had KILL at least the Male. It could take him years to find another pair of Healers like them. He could not duplicate the healing. He could speed it up for a short period of time, but the Subjects always died of heavy metal poisoning in the end. M3, M4, F5 and F6 had all died within 6 days of the process. Damn he needed Falcona again.
Scanner moved again. Falcona had left him a message. She was getting reckless. He finally had her; he would be able to track her back to her "Pack" after this little fight she had told him about. Weapon X, Weapon Y, and all of the "Elders" were going to try and raid his compound. Apparently all of the Elders had healing factors, so they were not old men after all. He would need to capture a few of them. He would use those Cleava Blade things to bring them down. He had found another Feral Healer thru Falcona of course. This new M5 was his greatest Weapon. He had grafted several nasty surprises on it. He also had a Mutant Weapon for the general population; that was going to be in the fight as well. It wasn't a Feral, but it was invisible. He would be ready for the Ferals. He would take more subjects and move his base to his backup location in the United States. It would be right under the government's nose. The US government had foolishly tried to shut him down years ago; once they found out about his own Mutant son. As if he was going to let anyone stop his work. Feral healers made for excellent organ donors. The organs he had taken off F2, M3, M4, Weapon X and Weapon Y would finance his operation until he retired from his work. He was very rich man thanks to these healers.
Scanner moved again. This couldn't be happening. These Ferals were taking apart his base of operations. The X-Men were part of the operations as well. His base was crawling with Mutants and Ferals. He was currently being chased by Weapon Y and some other creatures. The snake Feral had executed his all of scientist on staff. The other Males had made short work of his guards. Another group had FREED all of his Mutant subjects in general population and two new Female Ferals he had just gotten from Falcona. He would recover from this and make them pay. What was that? Nothing could walk thru a wall, right? Then he couldn't move muscle and the snake Feral was coming his way. No, this couldn't be happening he was William Stryker. He wouldn't fall to a lowly Mutant. He had to escape and complete his work. The world had to be rid of Mutants.
Scanner ended the images. Silence again was heard in the Meadow. Black Bear called for another short break before the Vote on both Falcona and Stryker. Once he finished speaking, Yuriko was up and heading to the Blackbird. Victor nodded and Lupa followed her. Medusa, Tigress, and Dragon Fly also followed after Yuriko. They were not going to let their Little Sister walk alone and they had all seen the tears in her eyes and on her face.
The other Elder Males stayed in the clearing. They knew their present wouldn't be appreciated. They had positive confirmation why Yuriko was cautious around Feral Males and it angered them. Stryker and Falcona would pay for it. The X-Men were also too shocked to move with the exception of Storm. Yuriko had never given them a detailed account of her time in the Labs. She wouldn't speak of it. Storm started to fly toward the Blackbird. She might not be welcome but she would offer her support if she was allowed in the Blackbird.
Victor looked after the women. They were better suited to offer Yuri comfort until Jimmy woke up. Rex was also following the young woman with his eyes. He had tears on his face for his Granddaughters. The Sisters were pleasant girls and were a joy to be around. They would be missed in the Packs. He was going to have Thank James' again. Mika had loved any story she could get about the Elder Brothers. The fact that James gave her one each night had been a treat the Child had come to love in the cages. In typical fashion, James had made it into a lesson as well. Teaching Mika different languages in the process; giving the Child something else to focus on other than being in a cage and of the pain in her arm.
Hammer Head turned to the rest of Elders. "We are gonna need to address the issue of Coran as well. He is the one that made the Cleava Curse Blades for Falcona for both Victor and James. Gateway is going to need to bring him here once Medusa comes back. We should have Medusa freeze him for the trip. We don't know if he has any additional Cleava Curse Blades already made for each of us. He must be taken without warning just in case." Everyone agreed. Having one of their own that would create a Cleava Curse Blade wasn't going to be allowed. He would be tried as well, since he was guilty of attempted Murder as well.
….To Be Continued?
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