X-Men: An Unnatural Omega

Chapter 8: Fear of The Dark

…

Wanda just barely made it to the courtyard when she saw that logan had landed in front of a tree with a few twigs sticking out of him and a…." What the hell"? she thought to herself as she saw a massive creature standing in front of him. "Is that thing derrick"? She asked herself as she starred in horror at what she was seeing.

Standing there was an eight foot or nine-foot-tall creature that looked like a mass of serrated tendrils given form, like a mass of black millipedes/worms that squirmed around the body before disappearing into the body as they were showing on the joints and segments that were visible.

The parts that were solid were like plates of tight woven armor that was just as black as the tendrils that had multiple serrations that went up on a well-toned stomach, chest, knees, arms, legs, and shoulders similar to a crab's spikes on its shell with a skeletal appearance to it as it sunk into the body without losing its bulky appearance of strong muscles on a massive frame.

It had semi hind legs that ended into clawed feet like the rhino with claws on the ends, almost like a triceratops or an armored boot.

Its hands were serrated knights' gauntlets that were knitted together with squirming muscle fibers that continued to go up the fingers that ended in massive greyish bone spikes that covered the arms that gleamed forwards like clawed knuckles. Next up was the head that was a round armor plate that had no eyes, ears, or nose but had a mouth with jagged sharp points for teeth without lips, like an armored jaw-bone that could open unnaturally wide. And had a row of upwards spikes running down the spinal column starting at the neck.

Wanda knew this was going to be bad, so she sent a mental signal to professor X and the others in the bar particularly jean who she knew peered into derricks mind earlier and said,

"Umm guys", Wanda called over through the psychic connection to them, "we have a situation in the courtyard between logan and Derrick".

"…..".

"Tell the others to not interfere until we get there"! Jean replied hastily.

"I've been in his head; I know what will calm him down"! She replied over the link.

She saw movement in the massive creature before her eyes widened as it charged forward like a battering ram hitting logan as it smashed through the tree causing it to splinter and kept going running causing the earth to shake as it did until it slapped against some roots as it came to a halt.

At this point logan was being held up against the roots by Derricks serrated fingers with his claws digging into the flesh of his neck as he shoved logan against the wall of plant life.

Logan went on the offensive slashing his claws into arm only to not have enough strength to do any significant damage to him as his claws skated off his limb that was holding him up.

Derrick let out a low growl obviously getting annoyed as logan started thrashing about trying to get some air as his survival instincts were kicking in. Then derrick hauled him up with both hands, holding him above his head while his neck was healing and smashed him down onto the ground with the dirt being slightly imprinted into the ground like a rag doll. Logan heard something pop suddenly as this happened obviously dislocating both shoulders and torn ligaments on his back, this was one of the few times he was happy he had an adamantium skeleton in his body or he would be a side of paste by now but it still hurt like hell.

"AAAAAGGGGHHHH"!

Now logan was no stranger to pain but it was his sense of powerlessness that was racing throughout his mind as he seethed up at the entity before him. He had been through all the years of pain and punishment and you would think he could handle something that was a homeless mutant for crying out loud! He was a former member of the weapon x program for keepers sakes!

His scream echoed throughout the clearing as the various mutants were standing a little way behind the two petrified at this and what they were witnessing, some of them like kitty pride and rogue who knew logan for years were starting to walk forwards with anger written on their faces as they were going to intervene.

Only for Wanda to hold up her hand to the side stopping them.

"Wanda, what the hell"!? Kitty yelled out at her while in shock with Rogue also having a similar look of rage on her face.

"Wanda turned towards them. "There's nothing we can do". "No one has been inside his head except jean who's on her way to calm him down". And from what I heard she's the only one who knows how to stop this".

"But look what he's doing"! Rogue demanded. As Derrick started to slam his fists on logans bloodied body, breaking the twigs off as he did and causing the ground to lightly shake as Logans form flopped a little off the ground every time it did. Right before landing back into the imprint in the crushed dirt and grass.

"I know", "but I've got the feeling that he's not the one who started this, Logan did". She explained. "The only thing we can do is wait and hope that this works", "we have to trust Jean", she continued. "Besides, from what we've seen, … I don't think we would be able to help anyway his fight with Laura should be proof enough of that….".

Kitty and Rogue looked back at the others horrified expressions behind them as they were watching the wild spectacle not knowing what they were going to do at this point. Before they backed up a step and looked away at what was happening with bitterness in their eyes.

It was then that everyone noticed movement as a drunk Jean walked over to them holding something. Derrick stopped what he was doing and turned his eyeless head towards their direction recognizing the scent.

…

It was at this point Jean, along with the others who were in the bar arrived at the scene with jean taking the initiative. Telling them to stay back while she calmed him down. "Wait….". was she holding one of the only other things that he brought with him when he arrived on kroako?

In her hands was a small stuffed teddy bear that had a patch on the left side where it was put together. She cautiously, slowly, stepped forwards like someone would do to not scare a wolf pup, as derrick tilted his shell-like head while she came to a stop in front of his massive frame with a soft expression on her face that had some regret in it. This was picked up by the others who wondered what the significance was of the bear, as well as logan who groaned and looked up weakly at the scene before him wondering what the hell this was all about.

She slowly held it out the teddy bear putting it in his clawed hand while he eased up a little and allowed her to place it into both his armored hands before slowly his form reverted back into his normal jacket and clothes, there wasn't that creepy grin but a neutral expression on his face, as if he was recognizing a distant memory. "Teddy…". He said with a bit of pain in his voice. As he held it close to his chest.

She then held him close as she put a hand on his and spoke. "It's okay to cry, just let it all out", she said to him resting his head on her shoulder. His face looked like he was on verge of tears at this point while the forgotten logan's healing factor kicked in and he rolled over popping his right shoulder back into place before slowly, with some effort stood up on wobbly legs. As they both sunk to their knees derrick held on to both the bear and Jean Grey as he choked out, "Mommy….". While Jean closed her eyes and slowly rocked him back and forth. "Just let it all out". She said again.

"What…. the…. hell". logan thought in his mind as his rage he felt before was replaced with confusion over what he was witnessing.

Jean opened her eyes as derrick wept in her shoulder and gave a look at logan that told him to let Derrick have this moment and back off!

Logan starred at her with some confusion before slowly nodding and backing up against the tree roots leaning against them as he did before pop his other shoulder back into place with a groan.

…

Everyone was standing still with Kitty, Rogue, Wanda, Scott and professor X all giving each other a look that indicated they were baffled that such a simple thing could calm him down from his rage induced brawl. "A teddy bear"? Scott whispered dumbfounded not believing that it only took "that", to calm him down.

Then after a few moments Jean and Derrick stood up as they walked over to professor Xavier.

"He'll be fine he just needs some time to grieve she said to them as she moved through the crowd of mutants. Leaving them in silence over what just happened and with Wanda, Kitty, and Rogue wondering what he meant by, "Mommy". While Polaris, Scott and Xavier were emotionally shaken, remembering what jean explained to them earlier in the bar about his bloody origins.