"Lady, believe me, if I remembered you, I definitely woulda called," Logan said under his breath.
The sights, the smells, even the feel of the air. It was home. 'So this is why I've been travelling all over Canada, hopping from bar to dingier bar. I was looking for this place. Ha, just looking in the wrong country.'
"Patch, still have that way with the ladies, I see," the bartender said as he went over and slapped Logan on the back. "So what brings you back after 16 years? Finally come looking for your share of the profits?"
"What? Profits?" Logan felt comfortable with this guy, like he could trust him. He never felt that way with anyone. "Look," he said in a low voice as he drew the man closer, "I don't exactly know what's going on here. I lost all my memories about 15 years ago. Maybe you can fill me in?"
"Well, that explains it. C'mon, let's grab a table. Name's O'Donnell, by the way."
O'Donnell turned and Logan grabbed Jubilee and followed him.
"Hey!"
"Listen up." Logan said. "You stick close to me while we're here, ok?"
"Here, in the bar?"
"In the country."
O'Donnell settled them in a booth near the back. 'Good spot,' Logan thought. 'Back's to the wall, so you can keep an eye on everyone and both doors.'
Once they were seated, O'Donnell began. "You've never been gone from Madripoor for more'n a few years since before I've been here. It's not like you to disappear for so long. Until we saw your ugly mug on the news last week, we thought your partner'd finally killed ya."
"Partner?"
"Yeah, you know, tall guy, long blonde hair, bad attitude. You called him Creed. You didn't get along very well. I think you actually tried to kill each other a coupla times."
"Wait a second, 'tried?' When I try to kill someone, I usually do it."
"Not this guy. He heals fast, like you. You did the odd job with him every few years when I knew you. You couldn't stand being together longer'n that. In fact, I think you were going out on another job with him around the time you disappeared."
"Description doesn't ring any bells."
"There was another name you called him. Had something to do with cats... Lionmane, Tigerclaw, something. Hey, Archie!"
O'Donnell signaled to a man in a pilot's outfit that had just entered the bar. The man was in his early 50's, his black hair turning gray at the side burns and mustache.
"Yeah, O'Donnell, what's up?"
"Archie, look, the prodigal Patch returns."
"Patch!" Archie reached out his hand and shook Logan's vigorously. "Too long, man. Way too long. You come looking for your profits?"
"What?"
O'Donnell leaned over and explained. "You own a half of the Princess Bar. Profits are kinda a joke since we're always rebuilding one part of this place or another."
"What's going on, Patch?" Archie asked, pulling up a chair. "Where've you been all this time?"
O'Donnell interrupted. "He can't remember more'n, what, 15 years ago? Anyway, that's not why I called you over here. What was that guy, Creed's, other name?"
"Victor?"
"No, the one that sounds like a cat's name."
"Ah, Sabretooth."
*SNIKT* Logan's blades sliced into the table before he knew what was happening. Jubilee had jumped out of her seat and was a few feet away before she realized there wasn't any danger. The other two men stayed in their seats, like they were used to this happening around Logan.
"Dang it, Logan. Don't do that." Jubilee chided as she smacked his arm.
"Sabretooth? I used to work with that murdering animal?"
"Yeah. How d'ya remember him when you can't remember anything else?" O'Donnell asked.
"We've been reintroduced."
Sensing that subject wasn't something Patch was up to talking about, O'Donnell asked, "So, why ARE you here?"
-----
"Ok, I'm packed." Rogue called as she headed for the garage. "Let's go."
"Wait a moment, Rogue," the professor called from the living room. Ororo, Jean, and Scott were already in there, their suitcases strewn around them. "I've just checked in Cerebro, and they're no longer in Japan."
"What?"
"Don't worry, they're safe. They are no longer being held against their will. They're in a country called Madripoor."
"Chuck, Madripoor is anything but safe," Marie said. Her voice had dropped lower and there was a growl to it.
Scott said, "Look, Japan or Madripoor, we're going after them, and we're bringing them back."
"Scooter, you wouldn't last a day in Madripoor. I could go, but I couldn't keep an eye on all of you and look for Logan. We're gonna have ta wait and do what we can to help from here."
Khaki
**********
"Yeah, and where did you get the metal? I thought your claws were bone," puzzled Archie.
"I've got to help stop a war," Logan said looking around. He suddenly realized that he had a personal stake in all this. These were his friends, his bar, and it was ground zero if what Mariko had said was true. This was no longer just a matter of keeping his word. "As for the metal, it's part of why I don't remember much. It's a long story that I'm not sure about all of myself."
He took a drink of his beer as he looked at the woman standing by the bar with a drink in her hand. He knew that even though she appeared to be ignoring him, she had been watching him closely the whole time just as he had been watching her. Her cooperation was the key to all this. The question was just how pissed was she at him? He remembered enough to know that having Tyger angry at you was not healthy. He'd have to talk fast and hope she believed him.
-----
Rogue's slipping into Logan's behavior hadn't gone unnoticed by the X-Men.
"Marie, what do you remember about Madripoor?" asked the Professor.
Rogue seemed to shake herself out of it and looked at the faces around her. She had been getting flashes of Logan's memories ever since she had seen the place named on Kitty's disk. They still hadn't told anyone that they had stolen Col. Fury's files. It just didn't seem the time to bring it up when he was there and now they could be in trouble for not telling in the first place.
"I've been seeing faces and places and fighting, lots of fighting, but it's all pieces that don't fit together. I just know it's one of the most dangerous places places in all of Asia."
The new student Gambit leaned nonchalantly against the wall listening. Madripoor he knew well having traveled there. His father and brother Henri had business there on more than one occasion. He knew just how dangerous it was. What the beautiful Rogue was doing mixed up with people from there he didn't know. He'd have to call home and talk to his father, but that was guild business and not something to share with the faculty at a school. These were nice people, but they would not understand if all his secrets were to come out, so he kept quiet.
Lurker
**********
After Rogue left the living room, Scott turned to Jean. "I hate it when she does that."
"What?" Jean asked.
"You know, that Wolverine voice. I'm just sure her head is gonna start spinning around any second."
"Scott, she's not possessed by evil."
"That's a matter of opinion."
-----
Rogue dragged her luggage back up the stairs to her room. She was wracking her brain, desperate to remember anything specific about Madripoor, but the more she tried to remember, the more nebulous the memories became. Most of Logan's legacy was a craving for beer and cigars, a strong desire to pick fights, and an almost irresistable urge to hit on Jean, mostly because it irritated the hell out of One-Eye. The only really solid memory flashes she got were in the nightmares.
Looking up, she realized she'd walked right past the girls' rooms and was in the boys' section of the mansion. Bobby and St. John were just coming out of their room.
"Hey, St. John. Remember when we were looking for that information on Logan? You were looking up info on Madripoor. Do you remember any of what you found?"
"Not really, Rogue. I do remember there wasn't anything about Logan."
"That'd be because he uses a different name there," Rogue said in a whisper.
"What?"
"Huh? No, thought I had something for a second. He doesn't use that name there, but I can't remember what name he uses. Anyway, anything else?"
"Nope, I didn't get very far before someone froze the computer."
"Hey," Bobby interrupted. "There were ninja's coming through the windows! So my aim was a little off. I remember someone else melting the server and a bunch of computers himself."
"Thanks anyway, guys," Rogue said as she turned around and headed back towards her room, passing Remy on the way.
"Hey, Remy."
"Hey, 'chere," Remy said as he headed to his room. He locked the door and picked up the phone.
-----
"What's this about a war?" O'Donnell asked, leaning in.
"It's complicated," Logan answered, finishing off his beer. "Have either of you seen a guy named Shingen or any of the Yakuza, for that matter?"
"Yeah, or know anything about a weird guy in a black and red samurai mask?" Jubilee piped up.
"Shingen came into town about a week ago. Disappeared pretty quick. Word on the street is he's dead."
Logan interrupted, "I heard he had some business with Tyger Tiger. Think she had anything to do with it?"
"Not her style, Patch. You know that." O'Donnell said, then after a second's thought. "Oh, yeah. Sorry... And, I heard there was a masked guy with Shingen, but I haven't seen him personally." O'Donnell looked around the bar. "Looks like I'd better get back to work."
"Yeah, I think it's about time I had a talk with the Tiger." Logan said. He got up and turned towards the bar. "Archie, keep an eye on Jubes for me?"
"Wait a second..." Jubilee started to protest.
"C'mon, Kid. I can tell you all of Patch's secrets."
Jubilee calmed down immediately. "Like what?"
Logan siddled up next to Tyger Tiger and sat down at the bar. "Nice to see ya again, Tyger. That was some greeting."
Khaki
**********
"Marie ain't gonna like you hittin' on everything in a skirt pal." Jubilee called out.
"She ain't my keeper an' she's to young ta be my girlfriend, so what I do ain't her concern. 'Sides they're hittin' on me."
"Sabretooth. That's the guy who tried ta kill Ms. Munroe?"
"Yeah, now I got things ta talk about. I need some privacy, girl."
Jason Barnett
**********
Gambit picked up the phone and was about to dial his father's number when he heard a muffled sobbing sound come from the next room. He tried to ignore it while dialing the number, but sighed, slammed the phone down and strolled out of his room into the next one.
"DAMN Pere for raisin me as a gentlemen," he thought to himself.
He walked into the room to find Kitty in a corner, curled up in a ball crying.
"Chere?"
Her face shot up, tears streaking down her face."R..remy? What are you doing here?"
"Chere, what's da matter?" His red eyes glowed with sympathy.
"I...I'm worried about Jubilee."
"Huh?" Gambit blinked,"Why?"
"Why? WHY!? She's with Logan, God knows where, and with those people after them or something. I dunno!? WHY would I be WORRIED!!" Kitty sobbed louder, then bit her lip,"I'm sorry Remy, but could you leave me alone a while. Thanks for being concerned and all..b.ut..b.ut.."
Remy nodded, Kitty and Jubilee were close, and Kitty needed some time alone.
Remy walked back into his room, and closed the door.
Jubilee had been taken. How had he NOT known this!? He clenched his teeth as a few memories sweeped through his mind.
Flashback 1:
Scott walked into the classroom, a young man of about 17 or 18 following behind. "This is Remy Lebeau. He's a new student here. Rogue, I'd like you to show him around."
A beautiful girl with white streaks in it stood up, and smiled. "Welcome to the school."
Remy grinned a charming smile. "Allo, chere, a pleasure to meet you."
A giggle caught his ear, and he turned to a young Asian girl with blue eyes. "Hmm, looks like the Bobster gots some competition now, ne?"
She laughed as Bobby and Rogue turned red.
Flashback 2:
Remy grumbled as Bobby and Rogue walked off to go out for lunch ALONE.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see Jubilee who grinned. "She likes roses, chocolate chip cookies, and those sickeningly sweet romance movies."
Flashback 3:
Remy had just finished his first Danger Room session. As he walked out, someone whistled. He turned to see Rogue, Jubilee, and Kitty.
Jubilee said, "Looks like someone has a couple tricks up his sleeves."
Flashback 4:
"Guuummbboooo! Give it baack!" Jubilee cried in annoyance as she pounced the older boy for her diary.
Gambit laughed. "Soorry chere! Not today!"
Flashback 5:
Gambit climbs up onto the roof and sees Jubilee crying. He gets a closeup of her tear stained face. He walks toward her.
Flashback 6:
"Okaaay, Scott is our brother with a stick up his ass, but we love him anyway," Jubilee declared.
Kitty, Gambit, and Rogue blinked at her.
"Kitty is my sister, so is Rogue, Logan is our distant scary uncle, ummm....."
"And me, chere?"
Jubilee grinned,"That's easy, you're my dorky older brother who can get any girl he wants, but when he finds a girl he DOES like, she won't give him the time of.."
"SHUT UP P'TITE!!!!!!!"
Jubilee laughed.
Back to he present:
Gambit nearly growled. One of his closest friends was taken; one of his FAMILY. It was personal. Besides, while saving Jubilee he may get time to save that Logan guy, too. It could score quite a few brownie points with Rogue.
He smirked.
Minkychan
**********
Tyger turned to face him. "What did you expect from me, that I would just fall into your arms, all is forgiven? I never had any delusions of true love; you were always far to wild to be tamed that way, but as your friend and ally, I did expect to at least hear from you sooner than 16 @#$$*%@## years!"
"Darlin' I'm sorry. I didn't plan it. At least I don't think so.."
"Don't think so?" Tyger raised a slender black eyebrow.
'You're stepping in it deeper, Logan. Think faster,' ran through his head.
"I don't remember more than 15 years ago, waking up naked in the snow in the Canadian wilderness. Everything else before was a blank. Except for the nightmares of being operated on."
'Oh, good one, Bub. Tell her the truth. Spill your guts all over the floor. You can just see how accepting and understanding she is. Of course she'll believe you,' Logan thought to himself
"Go on, this should be a great story." The sarchasm dripping from her voice.
Still looking at her, he saw the door to the bar behind her open and a girl in a school uniform stepped inside heading towards the bar. She was 15-17 years old and really did not belong on this side of town, let alone in a place like the Princess Bar. The girl was walking straight to them.
"Mother," she said as she stopped next to them, and Tyger turned to greet her.
Logan felt his jaw drop open as he looked at the girl and then at Tyger and then at the girl again. 'No. No, no, no! Tell me they didn't take this from me too.' The next thought was, 'No wonder she's so pissed,' while his stomach twisted and his legs went weak.
Tyger turned back to speak to Logan and quickly reached out to steady him. "Logan?"
"I'm sorry Tyger. I'm really sorry. I would never have left you and our daughter". It was all that he managed to get out. He was next to babbling.
"You are telling me the truth aren't you, about not remembering?" Tyger said softly taking his face in her hands and looking into his eyes. She was not a mutant but had always been sensitive to others around her. "This is my daughter Karma. MY daughter. You came into our lives right after she was born when my husband was murdered and protected us. It was later we became lovers." She looked deep into his eyes. "What brought you back to us? You obviously do not have all your memories back."
Logan stepped back and signalled the bartender for a whiskey, while he tried to steady himself. "Tyger, Lady Mariko, Shingen's daughter, wants to sit down with you and call a cease fire. She knows that you were not the one responsible for his disappearance."
"You are with the Yakuza now?"
"No, but I am keeping a promise I made to Mariko and trying to protect friends that I never remembered I had."
"I will meet with her. Set up the time and place."
Karma watched quietly. So this was Logan/Patch. Her mother had pictures of all of them together, and she, growing up in Lowtown, had heard the stories. He didn't seem so tough.
Lurker
**********
Karma, Tyger, and Logan suddenly heard a crash followed by a,"Oops, sorry!! ^,^;;;!!"
Logan sighed. So THIS was the Jubilee he'd heard about from Rogue, heh?
Minkychan
**********
Remy got off the phone with his father and began to pack. He'd gotten some Madripoor contacts and leads from his father that he wanted to investigate personally. He packed quickly and left his room through the window. The fewer people that saw him leaving with his duffel bag packed, the better. He made it to the garage and had set his bag down by his old bike when that new teacher came walking by.
"Hey, Gambit. Going for a ride?"
He glanced down and saw that the bike effectively hid his duffel from her view. "Yeah, chere. Just going into town."
'He's hiding something,' she thought, but Gambit was a tricky one. His psychic shields were strong enough that he'd detect any probing on her part.
"Ok, see you later." Nickie said as she went into the house.
Her thoughts quickly left Gambit and returned to Colonel Fury. The school grapevine was going crazy, and she had to update him.
She went to the study and shut the door, telepathically checking to see if anyone was around. Sensing that she was alone, she picked up the phone and dialed the number.
"Yeah."
"Go secure. Password: alpha tango 3-9-1." She heard mechanical beeps and clicks as the line was checked for breaks and taps.
"Secure. What's up, Nickie?"
"Latest rumors place Logan in Madripoor..." she began.
-----
The crash Logan had heard was caused by Jubilee bumping into one of the waiters, causing drinks to crash and spill over some very nasty customers. Of course, all of the Princess Bar's customers were very nasty.
"The time would be two days from now. Say about 7 p.m.? The place would be here, now if you'll excuse me for a second?"
'Why can't Jubes take my advice and stay put for 10 minutes?' Logan thought in exasperation as he headed over to help.
Khaki
**********
"This was my best suit, little girl." The big, nasty man stood up towering over Jubilee.
"Bite me," Jubilee said not paying attention to him but watching for Logan.
"Well maybe I will just teach you to watch your step," the man said, grabbing her arm.
"What?" Jubilee said looking up at him as he slapped her face... hard.
Jubilee blinked, letting the hit register in her mind as the pain slowly came too.
"Maybe that should... UMPH." The man was cut off as Jubilee drove her fist in to his solarplexis.
"DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!" Jubilee screamed, red with anger.
The man gasped for air and fell to his knees, grabbing her yellow coat for support. Jubilee would have none of that.
"Get your hands of my stuff." Jubilee looked as the man lifted his head to look her in the eyes.
Jubilee cut the fight short by putting her knee under his leg and flipping him over.
'Damn,' Logan thought as he saw the fight play out... 'Xavier sure didn't fool around with the kid's training.'
Jubilee rubbed her face. That had really hurt.
"Any one who hurts the kid answers to me." Logan growled, and the room calmed quickly, except for one or two that had not heard about him yet.
"And me!" Tiger said with a harsh face.
The room was quiet for a short moment before it went back to normal.
Admiral
**********
Remy pulled his bike up in front of one of the New York safe houses used by the Guild. He would leave the bike here and catch a ride to the airport. His father had already gotten him the ticket to Madripoor. When he had called about it, Jean-Luc had told him about the reports of a war brewing between the Yakuza and Tyger Tiger's people. Having Remy in the area to monitor things for the Guild had seemed ideal, and Remy could look for his friends. Madripoor was not a safe place for tourists. He would pick up the report with the details here and then leave.
Remy made it to the airport on time and boarded the plane to the other side of the world. Next stop the Madripoor Guild House and then a drink at the Princess Bar.
-----
Ogun was aware of the ninja kneeling to the side of the garden but chose to ignore him as he finished the set of precise fluid movements. Any one of them could have killed a man instantly. He was the best. He was the master. Lady Mariko would pay for making him look like a fool and releasing his prize student, Logan.
He really hadn't expected her to figure it out so fast. Shingen had obviously underestimated her and so had he. It would not happen again. Finally, he decided to acknowlege the ninja.
"Speak."
"We have located the one named Logan. He is here in Madripoor as the one known as Patch. He came accompanied by a blue eyed Asian girl and is talking to Tyger Tiger now at the Princess Bar."
So Mariko had sent Logan to kill him. She would definitely not be underestimated again. As for him talking to Tyger Tiger, plans would simply have to be stepped up.
Lurker
**********