Chapter 12

"No!" I screamed as I felt the blades piercing my flesh…ten of them, slicing through me, in and out, repeatedly, rapidly; entering through my back, exiting through my chest. I wanted to get away, but I couldn't move; I was trapped. I was hurt. I was angry. I was…Logan! This can't be happening! But I knew that it was as the flashes assailed my senses. I coughed, tasting the blood that bubbled in his mouth threatening to choke him as she sliced his skin into shreds. The pungent smell of musty water weighed heavy in the air. I couldn't breathe. Dizziness threatened to overwhelm me.

I grabbed hold of Scott in stunned disbelief as my knees buckled beneath me. I was blinded but for the horrific visions dancing before me.

"Jean," he said anxiously as he clasped me to him, "What is it?" Worry etched his face like deep grooves in fine granite as I gasped for breath. "What's wrong?"

"It's Logan," was all I could manage to choke out. I could feel him, I could see him. He was fighting for his life and he was dying. I felt the blood draining out of him as the blades ripped through him. He couldn't move, she held him tightly and plunged her talons deep into his back, rendering him helpless. He couldn't get up. Heal yourself! My mind screamed at him, Damn it Logan! Heal yourself! He had to do something! Listen to me, I pleaded with him.

Helplessly I watched as the visions flashed before me. How could this be happening? How could she have the upper hand?

Logan towered over her diminutive frame. Where he was all brawn and muscle, she was lean and lithe, yet strong; so very strong. Her jet black hair, neatly pinned behind her spoke volumes of her discipline. It was very determined, very calculated, very driven.

She was following orders, Stryker's orders, and she'd fight to the death to carry them out. They were almost militaristic in their simplicity, yet not quite, more mercenary to be exact. Her mission: to kill Logan, and there was nothing I could do to stop her.

Her looks were deceptive. Though small, she was every bit as strong as Logan. He tried to overpower her, but she wouldn't back down. She gave as good as she got. She was fast, her reflexes like that of a cheetah on the hunt. She was patient as she toyed with him for she refused to give up. Oh God, no!

With renewed determination, she drove the claws deep – ripping through his flesh – embedding into his muscles – paralyzing him as she drove deeper still. A look of satisfaction claimed her as she realized she was winning. Her eyes glittered with bloodlust as she went in for the kill.

Logan! Stop her!

"I'm trying!"

I felt a surge of energy flow through him as his anger boiled within, revitalizing him with fresh purpose. He growled with renewed vengeance and slashed through the metal chains that suspended his prison, sending him crashing on top of her, plunging her into the water. She released her hold.

Logan choked and sputtered as he struggled for air,resting a moment in agonized silence, his cheek pressed against the cool metal. He received a momentary respite before it came once more.

She rose from the water like a creature from the sea to attack again, the blades piercing his body armor as if it were nothing. He struggled for control as she plunged deep while he reached toward the end of the tank. She stabbed again, ripping through his flesh and organs. He screamed out in pain. She would not win!

Determination seized him and he grabbed the infuser, piercing it into her flesh. She raised shocked eyes to him as she reached for her abdomen, then he fired. Hot, liquid adamantium shot through her torso and into her limbs, filling her. The blank eyes of death held Wolverine's as silver tears formed and hardened on her face. He watched as she sank to the bottom of the tank with a heavy metallic 'clunk.'

The walls shook as I held onto Scott, unshed tears blurring my vision. Shakily I took a deep breath, relief flooding me. "He's ok," I said, the realization hitting me, "He's ok."

"Are you sure?" Scott asked.

"Yeah," I panted. "I'm sure." I became aware of the sound of rushing water. "We better hurry and find Cerebro." We were running out of time. Scott helped me to my feet and we hobbled down the tunnel.

We had almost reached the professor when I stopped dead in my tracks. I could hear them. I pressed my hand to my temple as they entered my mind. There were thousands of them, from everywhere, all over the planet. Mutants. Their lighted energies danced about in the dark, reflecting the lives they lived and loved.

Clearer this time I heard the voices, echoing in the inner recesses of my mind as they mixed and melded until they became one. Fear rushed through me as I heard a child's voice say, "Find all the mutants. Find them. Find them all," she coaxed.

"Each one – all of them," and he listened to her, he trusted her.

"Good," she beamed. "Kill them. Kill them all."

He was going to kill them, all of them – all of the mutants – all of us. It's the Professor. We had to stop him.

"Cerebro . . ." I exclaimed, "We're too late," as the ear-splitting screeching brought us to our knees. I heard the screams of men, women and children – their mutant abilities being crushed by one of their own. Scenes of morphing, mutations, suffering and crying cluttered my mind. Dear God!

"Eric hurry!" I heard Mystique beg to Magneto.

The humming stopped abruptly, giving us a mild reprieve as we struggled to get up and continue on. Then a different type of hum, low, deep and steady, permeated the walls. The floor vibrated as it increased in intensity, eerily and hauntingly becoming louder as it reverberated off the cement walls. The dam alarms started blaring as the foundation gave way to the ever increasing rush of water threatening to overflow us all.