"Here you are, Mr. Creed. Payment in full, in gold as you requested."
"Right." Sabretooth closed the case after counting the ingots.
"Can you tell me any more about this Logan person?"
"Like I said, he'll find you. An' when he does, he'll take the frail, make no mistake about that."
"That is unacceptable. Not only would my research be set back by years, but the specimen must not fall into the wrong hands."
"Tell ya what, Richardson," Sabretooth grinned. "I've got some business ta take care of, but I figure it'll take Logan about a week ta find ya. I'll come back before then. No extra charge."
"Dr. Richardson?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes. Jerry, isn't it? You have the test results on thirty-six?"
"Yes, sir." Jerry stood uncertainly.
"Well?"
"Uh, yes. It, ah, required eighty-seven stitches to close the wounds in her, ah, it's back, sir. The X-rays do not show any skull fractures, although it is definitely suffering from concussion. The peripheral areas of the skull X-ray showed a discrepancy, prompting us to run a full series."
"And?" Richardson said.
"Well, sir," Jerry said, stepping forward and removing several X-rays from the envelope he carried. "The bone tissue in the left arm seems to have been replaced with metal."
"Replaced? Surgically?"
"No, sir, although there are several scars on her, it's, arm indicating that a surgical procedure had been performed, they were not extensive enough for the kind of tissue replacement involved."
"Interesting." Richardson intently studied the X-rays. "Anything else?"
"Yes, sir. We have evidence of abdominal surgery as well. We conducted a sonogram but could find no sign that any organs had been removed."
Richardson slammed his fist into his desk,
"Damn you, Charles Xavier. Couldn't wait to get your hands on my creation, then you spend your time cutting it apart! I'll have my revenge, Jerry. When thirty-six is fully recovered, I'll have it destroy Xavier and his precious school."
"If she recovers, sir."
"What?"
"She shows no sign of regaining consciousness. She really ought to be in a hospital."
"It!" Richardson glowered at Jerry, "has the best possible medical care right here. I will not allow that specimen out of my control again, I will destroy it first. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then get out. I want to be notified the moment there is a change in it's condition."
"Yes, sir."
Jerry closed the office door behind him. He could not quell a surge of pity for the young woman these people insisted on calling an animal. She reminded him of his younger sister. He got the feeling that this was not the sort of organization that you could just resign from, so he determined to "softly and silently disappear" the next time he had the opportunity to go in to town. Maybe he could find this Charles Xavier person, and let him know where the girl was. Then again, with all the evidence of needless surgery and further experimentation, maybe he shouldn't. He'd have to think about it.
The atmosphere at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters was dark, brooding. Wolverine spent hours in the danger room, smashing robots by the score. It did not seem to improve his mood. Xavier, Jean, and Cyclops searched for any clue as to where Curtis Richardson may have set up his new laboratory, with no luck.
It was dark and silent when Star awoke. She could hear her own heart beating, but nothing else. Her head hurt and when she tried to lift it a wave of dizziness and nausea swept over her. She closed her eyes tightly, fighting against the darkness which threatened to engulf her once more. She tried to get her arms and legs under her, to help her rise, but her limbs were unresponsive. She was surrounded by a familiar odor, but she could not place it. She lifted her head once more, trying to identify the smell, and the darkness crashed in.
Jerry reluctantly reported the girl's brief return to consciousness to Dr. Richardson. Two full days had passed and he had been alone with her when it happened. He had considered ignoring it, but he realized that the instruments recording her vital signs would show the change, so he contacted Richardson.
"Good, good. Let me know the next time its awake. We will begin conditioning immediately."
"Yes, sir." Conditioning? He didn't like the sound of that.
Star nearly cried out when she recognized the odor surrounding her, but she bit back the sound, only the smallest moan escaping her lips. She was back in the Doctor's lab. She had come full circle. It was still dark and soundless, but this time she knew she was inside a psi-dampening field. She felt the vibrations of someone moving in the room with her. Gentle hands checked the straps on her wrists and ankles, loosening the strap on her left wrist. A straw was placed in her mouth, but she refused to drink. She would not cooperate. The Doctor only wanted a weapon, and she would not give that to him.
Not long after she awakened, she was fitted with an earplug. She jerked her head, trying to dislodge it, but immediately stopped when the pain threatened to cause her to black out again. Suddenly, she heard the Doctor's voice, causing her to twitch with surprise.
"Well, number thirty-six. You've had quite an adventure, haven't you?"
"My name is Star," she said weakly.
"You are an animal, number thirty-six. Animals do not have names." She could hear the gloating in his voice and knew she was lost. She closed her useless eyes again and surrendered to the ever present darkness.
Jerry watched Dr. Richardson as he left the small room where the girl was being held. Her sightless eyes had disconcerted him, but when she had stated her name, he could hear the intelligence and strength of will housed in the tiny body. He made her as comfortable as possible, covering her with a blanket he had brought with him from his room. Her skin was extremely cool to the touch and her brief periods of awareness were not reassuring. She belonged in a hospital, not strapped to a table in the laboratory of a mad man.
When his shift began the next day, the girl who called herself Star was not in the room.
"Hey, David!" He called, spying the other technician in the hall. "Where's the, uh, specimen?"
"She's in the lab. Doc wanted to see how cooperative she'd be with a little persuasion."
"Persuasion? What do you mean?"
"It this your first time to work with lab animals?"
"Well, no, but..."
"What sort of stimuli are usually employed with uncooperative animals?"
"Pain."
"Exactly." Jerry frowned and hurried to the lab.
"Well, thirty-six, shall we try again?" he heard Richardson say as he entered. He saw the girl strapped to an X shaped contraption, her feet suspended just above the floor, her arms over her head.
"I...can't...do what you want...Doctor," she said, lifting her head and looking toward them.
"Really, number thirty-six, I have extended the field to encompass the test area. You mastered these little tricks right out of the hatchery. Now try again."
"I can't."
"Very well," Richardson said, his voice reproving. "Let's see if we can give you the incentive to try harder." He pressed a switch on the console in front of him. Star screamed as the hundreds of tiny studs lining the framework to which she was attached each delivered a painful, and continuous, electrical shock to her body. Jerry cringed, powerless to help her. After what seemed to be an eternity, Richardson released the switch and the girl's body sagged within the restraints.
"Now then. Are you ready to try again?" Her head hung down, her weight supported by the wrist straps. After several shuddering breaths, she lifted her head once more.
"No." Her voice was barely audible.
"You were such a cooperative subject, number thirty-six. I must say I am most disappointed in you." He reached for the switch again, but Jerry caught his wrist.
"You dare interfere with my experiment?" Richardson was furious.
"No, sir," Jerry said quickly. "But it may be too soon after the head injury for ... it to be able to perform as required."
"All right. I believe I've made my point. Put it back in its cage." He dialed the psi dampener, built into the collar the girl wore, down. Jerry watched the fierce light in the girl's silver eyes fade into blindness.
"Yes, sir." Richardson stalked out of the room, his anger at being balked was palpable. Jerry shifted the frame until Star lay on her back, then he unfastened the restraints and picked her up. He was surprised at how slight she was. She probably didn't weight seventy pounds. She shuddered when he touched her and he was at a loss as to how to reassure her when she could neither hear nor see him. He settled for holding her gently. He was loathe to return her to her room, but for now there was no option. He spread the blanket on the bare metal table before placing her on it. She seemed to be unconscious. He fastened the restraints, but only loosely, then brought the sides of the blanket up to cover her. He looked down at her for a moment, then turned and left the room. He had to get the kid out of here, before that lunatic Richardson killed her.
Star lay on the table, trying to isolate herself from the pain. She was stronger than she had allowed the Doctor to know, but not by much. Even the effort required to see and hear caused her extreme pain. Her awareness of the room, limited to scent and vibration, faded in and out around her. She didn't recognize the technician who had interceded on her behalf. She hoped he wouldn't be hurt because of her. Her last thought, before the darkness claimed her once more, was of Wolverine. Tears stained her cheeks as she slept.
Jerry picked up his tray in the cafeteria which served the laboratory complex and sat down at an empty table. He was trying to decide who he should contact about the girl when he heard Jones, one of the two mercenaries that had brought the girl in, complaining loudly to any who would listen.
"I'd been on the force for sixteen years when I ran into that mutant. My own partner turned me in. Good ol' Barb. Guess she's gonna take that mutant lovin' pup Cowen as her new partner. I'm gonna get even with 'em both. Right after I get through with the Mutie, and that crazy mercenary. He actually threatened me!" Jerry put up his tray. At last, he had a name. And a policeman by the sound of it. It was too late to catch the shuttle in to town for the evening, but he would go tomorrow.
"Look, Chuck, I've got my own sources."
"Wolverine, if you will just be patient, I am certain..."
"It's been four days, an' you ain't had a whisper o' where she might be," he glared at Xavier across the desk. "I can't just...do nothin'. I gotta try ta find her, on my own." Xavier nodded.
"I understand, Logan. But, please, let us know if you find anything. Finding Star is important to the rest of us as well."
"I'll let ya know if I can." Wolverine turned and left the room, nearly running in to Jubilee.
"Wolvie?" He looked down at the youngest X-Man for a moment.
"I'll be back, darlin'. Don't worry."
"Why can't I go with you?"
"Darlin', some o' the places I'll be goin', you'd be kinda conspicuous." He put his hands on her shoulders.
"'Sides, I need ya ta look after this place. Man's gotta have someplace ta come back to."
"But..."
"No, buts."
"All right, Wolvie," Jubilee sighed. "But you be careful."
"Careful as I can." He turned then, and was gone.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Jean?"
"You let him go?"
"I really had no choice."
"Did you tell him that Sabretooth has been seen?"
"No. I want you and Scott to check that out." He sighed and took her hand. "They are too evenly matched, Jean. I couldn't risk Wolverine. Or Star."
"I understand, Charles. Scott and I will leave immediately." She smiled at him. "It wouldn't do to have Wolverine beat us to our own lead." Xavier looked at her sharply.
"No, I don't think he knows, but he does have a disconcerting way of finding things out."
"Yes, he does, doesn't he."
The next day the "conditioning" session continued. Jerry stayed away from the lab as much as possible, but the girl's screams echoed in his mind. He hoped this Cowen person could help, and quickly. She continued to refuse food or drink and Richardson ordered David to have her force fed. When Jerry was finally ordered to return her to her cage she hung limply in the restraints.
"Any progress, Doctor?" he heard David ask Richardson.
"Some, but not as much as there should be. It should be sufficiently recovered from the head wound by now. Why does it insist on resisting?" Jerry quickly released the girl, trying to be careful of the still healing wounds on her back, as well as the myriad new burns on body. She lifted her head, her blind eyes seeking his face for a moment before closing once more.
He returned her to her room and placed her carefully on the table. He went to the next room and got a salve for her burns. He stepped back into the room and was shocked to find the table empty. He found her on the floor behind the table, and hurried to her. She cringed when he knelt beside her.
"Please," he barely heard her. He lifted her back to the table and spread the salve on the burns, then he reluctantly fastened the restraints. If she fell from the table again, in her weakened condition she could seriously injure herself. Once more he covered her then, checking his watch, he smoothed her hair and hurried to catch the shuttle. Another day of "conditioning" would break her. Or kill her.
Star was too weak even to cry when the technician strapped her to the table and left her. She wanted to cry, for herself, for all the other 'specimens' that had died before her, for Wolverine who could easily have died from his burns. In the end, she slept.
Early the next morning the phone rang at Xavier's mansion. Gambit answered, then transferred the call to Xavier's study.
"Professor Xavier."
"Yes, Officer Cowen. What can I do for you this morning?"
"A man named Jerry called the station last night, looking for me. I didn't get the message until this morning and when I called him back he was quite upset. He said he works as a laboratory technician for a Dr. Richardson and that Miss Star is being held in an old lab complex in Arizona. I'm trying to get a search warrant now, but the lab is on federal land so it could take a while."
"I see."
"I just wanted to let you know that we may have found her. I'll call again when I know more."
"Thank you, Officer."
"Good-bye, Professor." Xavier disconnected, then typed a command on his computer keyboard. A few minutes later he called Gambit.
"I may have located Richardson's lab. Please get the others while I contact Jean."
"Tres Bon, Professor."
"Jean."
"Yes, Professor."
"We may have found Star. A technician contacted the police with the report that Star is being held by Richardson at his lab in Arizona."
"We are in Phoenix now, Professor. We lost Sabretooth here, but we...uh...found Wolverine."
"I see."
"I told you."
"Yes, you did."
"Do you know where the lab is located, Professor?"
"I believe so." He told her where he believed the lab to be. "The others are gathering now. We will join you shortly."
"All right, Professor."
Less than two hours later the blackbird landed at a deserted air strip outside Phoenix. Jean and Cyclops boarded at once.
"Wolverine...decided not to wait, Charles."
"Of course. Shall we join him?"
The blackbird took off once more and turned in the direction of the suspected lab.
David was rougher than necessary with Star that morning. He was irritated at having to handle the specimen himself. Jerry hadn't returned from town last night, and one of the other technicians was ill, so they were short handed. He disliked dealing with this one in particular because he knew exactly how dangerous she was. He quickly moved her to the test room and put her roughly on the restraining device. She was visibly weaker than the previous day. One way or another, he shouldn't have to deal with her for much longer. He fastened the wrist strap cruelly tight and was startled when the girl moaned. He quickly fastened the remaining straps, but she didn't show any further sign of rousing. He would have to check her charts to find an effective stimulant. Dr. Richardson would want her awake when he arrived. He shifted the restraining frame to an upright position. The weight of her body, slight though it was, caused the overtight straps to cut into the already damaged flesh of her wrists. Her blood flowed sluggishly down her arms. David ignored the injury and located a stimulant to which she had not been exposed. He prepared a syringe and placed it on the control console. He would inject her just before Dr. Richardson was due to arrive. He left her then, alone and barely conscious, her body bound, her mind shackled, hopeless.
"Mr. Jones, I find myself once more in need of your services." Richardson address the ex-policeman turned mercenary across his desk.
"I figured you would. That's why I stuck around." Jones pulled out a chair and sat down uninvited. "You need me to fetch another mutant for you?"
"No, Mr. Jones. The one subject I currently have is quite sufficient." He steepled his fingers, his elbows resting on the desk. "It is with number thirty-six that I require your particular expertise."
"Yeah?" Jones sat up, more interested than before.
"Yes. I understand that you were accused of unnecessary violence and brutality while you were on the police force. Is this correct?"
"Those charges were never officially filed," Jones said, nonplused by the apparent change in subject.
"Quite. However, I understand that you were quite ... thorough ... when you questioned a subject."
"Yeah," Jones sat back. "I have a knack for getting a perp to cooperate."
"In the case of number thirty-six I do not desire cooperation. It is obedience that I require. I can assure you, however, that there will be no charges of brutality." Jones got up, smiling.
"I'll see what I can do."
"Please keep in mind," Richardson said, as Jones opened the door of the office. "I do require that the subject remain alive, at least for the time being.
"Do my best."
"David," Richardson spoke into the intercom. "Please prepare the subject for immediate conditioning."
"Yes, sir" David's voice was slightly tinny over the speaker.
David sighed as he returned to the lab. He had hoped to complete a tissue culture he was running before Dr. Richardson would be ready for number thirty-six. He picked up the syringe and approached the girl. She lifted her head at his approach and he quickly checked the reading on the psi dampening field. It always disconcerted him when she reacted to him while under the field. He pushed her head back, exposing her white throat, a raw band showing under the collar. He located the large artery in her throat and injected the stimulant. Even as he withdrew the needle she shuddered, her brain flooded with the drug. She gasped and opened her eyes, following his movements even though she could not see him. As soon as Richardson arrived, he would go finish his culture.
"Right." Sabretooth closed the case after counting the ingots.
"Can you tell me any more about this Logan person?"
"Like I said, he'll find you. An' when he does, he'll take the frail, make no mistake about that."
"That is unacceptable. Not only would my research be set back by years, but the specimen must not fall into the wrong hands."
"Tell ya what, Richardson," Sabretooth grinned. "I've got some business ta take care of, but I figure it'll take Logan about a week ta find ya. I'll come back before then. No extra charge."
"Dr. Richardson?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes. Jerry, isn't it? You have the test results on thirty-six?"
"Yes, sir." Jerry stood uncertainly.
"Well?"
"Uh, yes. It, ah, required eighty-seven stitches to close the wounds in her, ah, it's back, sir. The X-rays do not show any skull fractures, although it is definitely suffering from concussion. The peripheral areas of the skull X-ray showed a discrepancy, prompting us to run a full series."
"And?" Richardson said.
"Well, sir," Jerry said, stepping forward and removing several X-rays from the envelope he carried. "The bone tissue in the left arm seems to have been replaced with metal."
"Replaced? Surgically?"
"No, sir, although there are several scars on her, it's, arm indicating that a surgical procedure had been performed, they were not extensive enough for the kind of tissue replacement involved."
"Interesting." Richardson intently studied the X-rays. "Anything else?"
"Yes, sir. We have evidence of abdominal surgery as well. We conducted a sonogram but could find no sign that any organs had been removed."
Richardson slammed his fist into his desk,
"Damn you, Charles Xavier. Couldn't wait to get your hands on my creation, then you spend your time cutting it apart! I'll have my revenge, Jerry. When thirty-six is fully recovered, I'll have it destroy Xavier and his precious school."
"If she recovers, sir."
"What?"
"She shows no sign of regaining consciousness. She really ought to be in a hospital."
"It!" Richardson glowered at Jerry, "has the best possible medical care right here. I will not allow that specimen out of my control again, I will destroy it first. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then get out. I want to be notified the moment there is a change in it's condition."
"Yes, sir."
Jerry closed the office door behind him. He could not quell a surge of pity for the young woman these people insisted on calling an animal. She reminded him of his younger sister. He got the feeling that this was not the sort of organization that you could just resign from, so he determined to "softly and silently disappear" the next time he had the opportunity to go in to town. Maybe he could find this Charles Xavier person, and let him know where the girl was. Then again, with all the evidence of needless surgery and further experimentation, maybe he shouldn't. He'd have to think about it.
The atmosphere at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters was dark, brooding. Wolverine spent hours in the danger room, smashing robots by the score. It did not seem to improve his mood. Xavier, Jean, and Cyclops searched for any clue as to where Curtis Richardson may have set up his new laboratory, with no luck.
It was dark and silent when Star awoke. She could hear her own heart beating, but nothing else. Her head hurt and when she tried to lift it a wave of dizziness and nausea swept over her. She closed her eyes tightly, fighting against the darkness which threatened to engulf her once more. She tried to get her arms and legs under her, to help her rise, but her limbs were unresponsive. She was surrounded by a familiar odor, but she could not place it. She lifted her head once more, trying to identify the smell, and the darkness crashed in.
Jerry reluctantly reported the girl's brief return to consciousness to Dr. Richardson. Two full days had passed and he had been alone with her when it happened. He had considered ignoring it, but he realized that the instruments recording her vital signs would show the change, so he contacted Richardson.
"Good, good. Let me know the next time its awake. We will begin conditioning immediately."
"Yes, sir." Conditioning? He didn't like the sound of that.
Star nearly cried out when she recognized the odor surrounding her, but she bit back the sound, only the smallest moan escaping her lips. She was back in the Doctor's lab. She had come full circle. It was still dark and soundless, but this time she knew she was inside a psi-dampening field. She felt the vibrations of someone moving in the room with her. Gentle hands checked the straps on her wrists and ankles, loosening the strap on her left wrist. A straw was placed in her mouth, but she refused to drink. She would not cooperate. The Doctor only wanted a weapon, and she would not give that to him.
Not long after she awakened, she was fitted with an earplug. She jerked her head, trying to dislodge it, but immediately stopped when the pain threatened to cause her to black out again. Suddenly, she heard the Doctor's voice, causing her to twitch with surprise.
"Well, number thirty-six. You've had quite an adventure, haven't you?"
"My name is Star," she said weakly.
"You are an animal, number thirty-six. Animals do not have names." She could hear the gloating in his voice and knew she was lost. She closed her useless eyes again and surrendered to the ever present darkness.
Jerry watched Dr. Richardson as he left the small room where the girl was being held. Her sightless eyes had disconcerted him, but when she had stated her name, he could hear the intelligence and strength of will housed in the tiny body. He made her as comfortable as possible, covering her with a blanket he had brought with him from his room. Her skin was extremely cool to the touch and her brief periods of awareness were not reassuring. She belonged in a hospital, not strapped to a table in the laboratory of a mad man.
When his shift began the next day, the girl who called herself Star was not in the room.
"Hey, David!" He called, spying the other technician in the hall. "Where's the, uh, specimen?"
"She's in the lab. Doc wanted to see how cooperative she'd be with a little persuasion."
"Persuasion? What do you mean?"
"It this your first time to work with lab animals?"
"Well, no, but..."
"What sort of stimuli are usually employed with uncooperative animals?"
"Pain."
"Exactly." Jerry frowned and hurried to the lab.
"Well, thirty-six, shall we try again?" he heard Richardson say as he entered. He saw the girl strapped to an X shaped contraption, her feet suspended just above the floor, her arms over her head.
"I...can't...do what you want...Doctor," she said, lifting her head and looking toward them.
"Really, number thirty-six, I have extended the field to encompass the test area. You mastered these little tricks right out of the hatchery. Now try again."
"I can't."
"Very well," Richardson said, his voice reproving. "Let's see if we can give you the incentive to try harder." He pressed a switch on the console in front of him. Star screamed as the hundreds of tiny studs lining the framework to which she was attached each delivered a painful, and continuous, electrical shock to her body. Jerry cringed, powerless to help her. After what seemed to be an eternity, Richardson released the switch and the girl's body sagged within the restraints.
"Now then. Are you ready to try again?" Her head hung down, her weight supported by the wrist straps. After several shuddering breaths, she lifted her head once more.
"No." Her voice was barely audible.
"You were such a cooperative subject, number thirty-six. I must say I am most disappointed in you." He reached for the switch again, but Jerry caught his wrist.
"You dare interfere with my experiment?" Richardson was furious.
"No, sir," Jerry said quickly. "But it may be too soon after the head injury for ... it to be able to perform as required."
"All right. I believe I've made my point. Put it back in its cage." He dialed the psi dampener, built into the collar the girl wore, down. Jerry watched the fierce light in the girl's silver eyes fade into blindness.
"Yes, sir." Richardson stalked out of the room, his anger at being balked was palpable. Jerry shifted the frame until Star lay on her back, then he unfastened the restraints and picked her up. He was surprised at how slight she was. She probably didn't weight seventy pounds. She shuddered when he touched her and he was at a loss as to how to reassure her when she could neither hear nor see him. He settled for holding her gently. He was loathe to return her to her room, but for now there was no option. He spread the blanket on the bare metal table before placing her on it. She seemed to be unconscious. He fastened the restraints, but only loosely, then brought the sides of the blanket up to cover her. He looked down at her for a moment, then turned and left the room. He had to get the kid out of here, before that lunatic Richardson killed her.
Star lay on the table, trying to isolate herself from the pain. She was stronger than she had allowed the Doctor to know, but not by much. Even the effort required to see and hear caused her extreme pain. Her awareness of the room, limited to scent and vibration, faded in and out around her. She didn't recognize the technician who had interceded on her behalf. She hoped he wouldn't be hurt because of her. Her last thought, before the darkness claimed her once more, was of Wolverine. Tears stained her cheeks as she slept.
Jerry picked up his tray in the cafeteria which served the laboratory complex and sat down at an empty table. He was trying to decide who he should contact about the girl when he heard Jones, one of the two mercenaries that had brought the girl in, complaining loudly to any who would listen.
"I'd been on the force for sixteen years when I ran into that mutant. My own partner turned me in. Good ol' Barb. Guess she's gonna take that mutant lovin' pup Cowen as her new partner. I'm gonna get even with 'em both. Right after I get through with the Mutie, and that crazy mercenary. He actually threatened me!" Jerry put up his tray. At last, he had a name. And a policeman by the sound of it. It was too late to catch the shuttle in to town for the evening, but he would go tomorrow.
"Look, Chuck, I've got my own sources."
"Wolverine, if you will just be patient, I am certain..."
"It's been four days, an' you ain't had a whisper o' where she might be," he glared at Xavier across the desk. "I can't just...do nothin'. I gotta try ta find her, on my own." Xavier nodded.
"I understand, Logan. But, please, let us know if you find anything. Finding Star is important to the rest of us as well."
"I'll let ya know if I can." Wolverine turned and left the room, nearly running in to Jubilee.
"Wolvie?" He looked down at the youngest X-Man for a moment.
"I'll be back, darlin'. Don't worry."
"Why can't I go with you?"
"Darlin', some o' the places I'll be goin', you'd be kinda conspicuous." He put his hands on her shoulders.
"'Sides, I need ya ta look after this place. Man's gotta have someplace ta come back to."
"But..."
"No, buts."
"All right, Wolvie," Jubilee sighed. "But you be careful."
"Careful as I can." He turned then, and was gone.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Jean?"
"You let him go?"
"I really had no choice."
"Did you tell him that Sabretooth has been seen?"
"No. I want you and Scott to check that out." He sighed and took her hand. "They are too evenly matched, Jean. I couldn't risk Wolverine. Or Star."
"I understand, Charles. Scott and I will leave immediately." She smiled at him. "It wouldn't do to have Wolverine beat us to our own lead." Xavier looked at her sharply.
"No, I don't think he knows, but he does have a disconcerting way of finding things out."
"Yes, he does, doesn't he."
The next day the "conditioning" session continued. Jerry stayed away from the lab as much as possible, but the girl's screams echoed in his mind. He hoped this Cowen person could help, and quickly. She continued to refuse food or drink and Richardson ordered David to have her force fed. When Jerry was finally ordered to return her to her cage she hung limply in the restraints.
"Any progress, Doctor?" he heard David ask Richardson.
"Some, but not as much as there should be. It should be sufficiently recovered from the head wound by now. Why does it insist on resisting?" Jerry quickly released the girl, trying to be careful of the still healing wounds on her back, as well as the myriad new burns on body. She lifted her head, her blind eyes seeking his face for a moment before closing once more.
He returned her to her room and placed her carefully on the table. He went to the next room and got a salve for her burns. He stepped back into the room and was shocked to find the table empty. He found her on the floor behind the table, and hurried to her. She cringed when he knelt beside her.
"Please," he barely heard her. He lifted her back to the table and spread the salve on the burns, then he reluctantly fastened the restraints. If she fell from the table again, in her weakened condition she could seriously injure herself. Once more he covered her then, checking his watch, he smoothed her hair and hurried to catch the shuttle. Another day of "conditioning" would break her. Or kill her.
Star was too weak even to cry when the technician strapped her to the table and left her. She wanted to cry, for herself, for all the other 'specimens' that had died before her, for Wolverine who could easily have died from his burns. In the end, she slept.
Early the next morning the phone rang at Xavier's mansion. Gambit answered, then transferred the call to Xavier's study.
"Professor Xavier."
"Yes, Officer Cowen. What can I do for you this morning?"
"A man named Jerry called the station last night, looking for me. I didn't get the message until this morning and when I called him back he was quite upset. He said he works as a laboratory technician for a Dr. Richardson and that Miss Star is being held in an old lab complex in Arizona. I'm trying to get a search warrant now, but the lab is on federal land so it could take a while."
"I see."
"I just wanted to let you know that we may have found her. I'll call again when I know more."
"Thank you, Officer."
"Good-bye, Professor." Xavier disconnected, then typed a command on his computer keyboard. A few minutes later he called Gambit.
"I may have located Richardson's lab. Please get the others while I contact Jean."
"Tres Bon, Professor."
"Jean."
"Yes, Professor."
"We may have found Star. A technician contacted the police with the report that Star is being held by Richardson at his lab in Arizona."
"We are in Phoenix now, Professor. We lost Sabretooth here, but we...uh...found Wolverine."
"I see."
"I told you."
"Yes, you did."
"Do you know where the lab is located, Professor?"
"I believe so." He told her where he believed the lab to be. "The others are gathering now. We will join you shortly."
"All right, Professor."
Less than two hours later the blackbird landed at a deserted air strip outside Phoenix. Jean and Cyclops boarded at once.
"Wolverine...decided not to wait, Charles."
"Of course. Shall we join him?"
The blackbird took off once more and turned in the direction of the suspected lab.
David was rougher than necessary with Star that morning. He was irritated at having to handle the specimen himself. Jerry hadn't returned from town last night, and one of the other technicians was ill, so they were short handed. He disliked dealing with this one in particular because he knew exactly how dangerous she was. He quickly moved her to the test room and put her roughly on the restraining device. She was visibly weaker than the previous day. One way or another, he shouldn't have to deal with her for much longer. He fastened the wrist strap cruelly tight and was startled when the girl moaned. He quickly fastened the remaining straps, but she didn't show any further sign of rousing. He would have to check her charts to find an effective stimulant. Dr. Richardson would want her awake when he arrived. He shifted the restraining frame to an upright position. The weight of her body, slight though it was, caused the overtight straps to cut into the already damaged flesh of her wrists. Her blood flowed sluggishly down her arms. David ignored the injury and located a stimulant to which she had not been exposed. He prepared a syringe and placed it on the control console. He would inject her just before Dr. Richardson was due to arrive. He left her then, alone and barely conscious, her body bound, her mind shackled, hopeless.
"Mr. Jones, I find myself once more in need of your services." Richardson address the ex-policeman turned mercenary across his desk.
"I figured you would. That's why I stuck around." Jones pulled out a chair and sat down uninvited. "You need me to fetch another mutant for you?"
"No, Mr. Jones. The one subject I currently have is quite sufficient." He steepled his fingers, his elbows resting on the desk. "It is with number thirty-six that I require your particular expertise."
"Yeah?" Jones sat up, more interested than before.
"Yes. I understand that you were accused of unnecessary violence and brutality while you were on the police force. Is this correct?"
"Those charges were never officially filed," Jones said, nonplused by the apparent change in subject.
"Quite. However, I understand that you were quite ... thorough ... when you questioned a subject."
"Yeah," Jones sat back. "I have a knack for getting a perp to cooperate."
"In the case of number thirty-six I do not desire cooperation. It is obedience that I require. I can assure you, however, that there will be no charges of brutality." Jones got up, smiling.
"I'll see what I can do."
"Please keep in mind," Richardson said, as Jones opened the door of the office. "I do require that the subject remain alive, at least for the time being.
"Do my best."
"David," Richardson spoke into the intercom. "Please prepare the subject for immediate conditioning."
"Yes, sir" David's voice was slightly tinny over the speaker.
David sighed as he returned to the lab. He had hoped to complete a tissue culture he was running before Dr. Richardson would be ready for number thirty-six. He picked up the syringe and approached the girl. She lifted her head at his approach and he quickly checked the reading on the psi dampening field. It always disconcerted him when she reacted to him while under the field. He pushed her head back, exposing her white throat, a raw band showing under the collar. He located the large artery in her throat and injected the stimulant. Even as he withdrew the needle she shuddered, her brain flooded with the drug. She gasped and opened her eyes, following his movements even though she could not see him. As soon as Richardson arrived, he would go finish his culture.