Disclaimer: None of it's mine...trust me I would be driving a much better car if I did!
A/N: I don't remember Wolverine ever recovering his memories- fully anyway, so um...now that its been said...
the sections of text in italics take place on the psychic plane.
*telepathic thought*
Chapter 6
*Wolvie*
It came as a whisper in the night, tinged with pain. One Harley was speeding down the highway, in the dead of night when it skidded to the side of the road as the tentative voice entered his mind. Logan shut off the engine and closed his eyes, calming his breathing so that he could concentrate. His heart-rate slowed and he found the thread that connect the two of them together. *Jubilee?*
Her voice was indescribably sad, and it came through in a haze of red and pain. *Sorry 'bout that Wolvie.*
*About what?*
*Not being there for you. Guess I wasn't made to be your partner after all huh?*
*Nonsense Darlin, it works both ways remember? Tell me where you are.*
*Don't know, it's all dark. Got an inhibitor on, they don't know about my psi-powers. Lucky me huh?*
*Jubilee, sweetheart, ya gotta give me something to work with. Who's doin this to ya?* Wolverine's hands clenched on the handles in and effort to keep in control.
*Oh god, they're back. I'm sorry Wolvie...* The connection was lost, and no matter what he did he couldn't get it back. Clenching his teeth, he revved the bike up, and shot onto the road, speeding towards Jubilee. No matter what happened, he would find her.
-in-
"Wake up!" Jubilee was smartly slapped in the face, and she blearily opened her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she was finally able to make out a figure in blue.
"Mystique." she spat out.
"Smart girl, not too smart though since I've been around you since you started this little adventure."
"God, you were Sarah weren't you. I knew I shouldn't have trusted..." Jubilee twisted in her bindings, and found that her hands were firmly tied behind her back with some kind of metal shackles. Her feet were strapped together as well, and inhibitor was around her neck, restricting her movements so she couldn't turn her neck to look around the room.
"Hardly, your precious Sarah is next to you, we almost had to kill to her, she put such a huge fight."
From the corner of her eye, Jubilee saw Mystique stroke someone's face. "Sarah?"
A soft grunt came from Jubilee's right as Sarah tried to turn to look at her. "I'm so sorry Jae. Right after I called you I got ambushed."
"It's okay." Jubilee glared at Mystique who was standing in front of her with a grin. "What's the point of this? What I'm doing is helping mutants, I'll admit it's not another Genosha but if it had worked we would have been able to live in peace."
"Peace?" Mystique laughed. "Humans don't know the word. We would've lived in peace if hadn't been for them and their little prejudices that infect them until they hate themselves."
"So what are you going to do? Take over the world, and rid the world of humans? Even you aren't that sick." A bizarre gleam glowed in the woman's eyes, and Jubilee felt a shiver travel down her spine. "Why do that when they'll kill themselves off for us?"
"What do you want with the senator?"
"Poor baby, you think on such a little scale. The US in nothing when you think in global terms."
"Global?" Sarah whispered hoarsely.
"Three years ago, a man called Sanji Sam discovered what looked like the cure for AIDS. It was going to blow the scientific community away. Only it had one ittsy bitsy side effect. It was lethal for humans. Rather interesting really, there was no side effects on the rats, or monkeys that they used them on, so when the time came for human subjects people were lining the blocks to get the chance to use it. 98 people died within the first week of it being administered. Only two survived out of the 100 volunteers and they were mutants."
"Didn't you learn from the Legacy virus? No matter what we intend things change and mutate. Even the government learned from their mistakes with that."
"Sweet innocent Jubilee, you don't understand do you? They don't learn and currently in each nation's highest security facility there are enough vials of the Janus virus to kill off the world's population."
"I still don't get why you captured me."
"You weren't a problem until Pearson actually looked like she was going to win the election. And then you somehow managed to get rid of the information we had on her. I still can't figure how you did that." Mystique muttered to herself as she paced around the room.
Jubilee careful kept her face expressionless as she gently felt the lock, feeling a rush of excitement when she realized that it was based on a simple locking mechanism. "So, lemme get this straight. You wanna get rid of humans, so mutants can rule the Earth. Psychotic much? Have you ever considered therapy?" Jubilee's voice grew higher, and she purposefully let her Valley Girl slip into place.
"Shut up you little brat." Mystique hissed and punched her in the face. Blood started to pour from her face, and Jubilee could feel a tooth come loose which she spat out onto the floor.
"I hate to break it to you Blue, but this whole anger at the world thing is so eighties. Not only do you suck as a villain, you're an out of style villain. Dude, I don't even think Fuzzy would stoop so low." Sarah winced as Jubilee was hit again and again, and still kept on talking. Jubilee had discovered that once she had hit a certain threshold of pain, she could ignore the blows being rained down on her face and body. With her fingernail, she scraped off the flesh colored tape on her palm that held a single toothpick shaped piece of metal. It was fitted into the life lines on her palm, and was flexible so she could hide it without it being detected. Mystique had almost beaten Jubilee into unconsciousness when a mutant came in and told her that she was needed. Catching her breath she walked out, not bothering to glance at the two restrained women.
*Sarah* The older woman jerked in her seat as if she had been shot. *Sarah this is Jae, and big surprise- I'm a mutant.* Sarah opened her mouth as if to speak when Jubilee quickly spoke again. *Don't say anything out loud because she can hear you. Talk within your head, kind of like thinking to yourself and I be able hear you.* Jubilee could feel the flurry of emotions tumbling around in Sarah's head.
*Who are you?*
*I can't give you my real name, but I am part of mutant group that believes that peace with humans is possible. My work with Senator Pearson is directly involved with that. I know if she can get to presidency she can do great things with this country and spark off other countries to do the same.*
*Would you have forced her to do it? Her anti-mutant stance is well known.*
*Originally it was pro-mutant. But if she had, I would have forced her, yes.*
*Some living in peace you talk about.* Jubilee's eyes flashed. *Don't tell me about peace. I knew two, thirteen-year-old boys that were killed by the FOH and nothing happened because they were mutants. My best friend died saving the lives of humans who said he deserved it. I don't want my children to grow up in a world like this, I don't any more friends to die, and if I have to force my way to do it, then so be it.*
*It just sounds to me like you're trying to defend actions that you're supposedly against.* Sarah said simply. * I know what it's like to hate, I just don't think compromising your principles is worth getting what you've dreamed for at the cost of them.*
*I don't have time to argue, you've been a good friend and we need to get out of here now. Mystique isn't stupid, she's probably going to kill us when she gets back. I'm almost free, are coming with me?*
*Yes.*
The cuffs clattered to the floor as the locks sprung, and Jubilee fumbled with the inhibitor around her neck. Finding no latch, she steeled herself and rammed the inhibitor collar into the chair's back that ended in a sharp edge. A painful jolt of electricity ran through her, and with the mechanics disabled, she was able to place a well-aimed paff on it and have it fall into her hands. Ignoring the painful bruise on her neck, a few quick paffs broke the ones around her ankles and she moved to free Sarah. Her ankles were numb from being contained so long and she stumbled, tripping to the floor, landing heavily on her wrist that cracked on impact.
Suddenly a shot rang out and Jubilee looked up in horror to see what was left of Sarah's face. Jumping up, she found Mystique grinning and shaking her head. "How stupid do you think I am? There's no way you're getting out of here alive."
"Pretty stupid actually." Jubilee smiled, and rolled to the side, her right arm tucked protectively to her body. Shots echoed across the dimly lit room, and she let some paffs fly, blinding Mystique just long enough so that she could get on her feet. Mystique spun around, her foot connecting with Jubilee's jaw with a crunch that sent her reeling. Skipping back, Jubilee licked her lips, and wiped the blood that was blurring her vision. Smirking, Mystique launched into another attack, her feet aimed for Jubilee's already bruised stomach. Jubilee ducked, and grabbed the incoming foot and twisted it slightly sending Mystique into the wall. Before the woman had time to react, Jubilee sent a volley of paffs that exploded the wall, and sent huge chunks reigning down on their heads.
Concentrating, Jubilee sent out something she called a cherry bomb, that was a series of explosions radiating out from her body that demolished the building around her. She crouched down and made a run for the opening she could feel about a hundred yards away. Around her mutants were busy running for cover from the flying debris, too busy saving their own lives to worry about hers. A paff must have hit a gas line because just as she cleared the opening, the building went up in flames, singeing her back and hair until she finally got to safety. It was only then did she pause to look at where she was, an old warehouse on a wharf jutting out into the ocean that was shuddering under her feet.
Gathering the last of her strength, she broke into a run to get out before it collapsed under her. Jubilee gasped for breath as she finally reached solid ground, and only once she felt safe enough, did her injuries finally overtake her, and blackness surrounded her.
-in-
After searching Jubilee's apartment, he had found nothing, besides a day old scent that did little to help him. Closing his eyes, he found the thread that he associated with Jubilee's telepathy and gently felt along the connection. He soon discovered that the thread gave subtle pulls in direction that he could only hope lead him to Jubilee. "Got nothing else." He muttered as he got on his bike once more and let instinct take over.
Many twists and turns later, he ended up in a small town on the coast where the ships docked and unloaded their wares. Suddenly, about a half a mile away, he heard an explosion, and with a feral grin he sped towards the area. "That's my girl."
As he pulled up he saw a figure stagger out down the street, just as the whole thing fell in the rolling turf. The scent was unmistakable, and within seconds he had his arms around a barely recognizable Jubilee who passed out as soon as he touched her. Carefully gathering in her in his arms, he looked her over not wanting to make the situation worse by moving her. Among her uncountable bruises, cuts and scrapes; her back was badly burnt, and most of her hair was gone, her right arm and wrist looked broken as well as her jaw, and it looked like she had a minor fracture in her in leg.
He gently ran a hand over her torso, wincing as she whimpered in pain, but found no broken ribs. Cradling her, he got back on his bike and drove to a hospital that he knew took care of high profile cases and were able to keep their mouths shut. Luckily it was only a few miles away and within an hour, Jubilee was safely in the hands of the emergency doctors there. Sinking into an overstuffed chair, Logan sighed, hoping to god that he wouldn't lose the woman that he was afraid he loved.
-in-
Seven hours later... "Mr. Logan?" A blood covered surgeon approached, looking concerned at the man who was twisted uncomfortably in a chair.
"Yes?" Logan jerked awake.
"There was lot of damage to her internal organs. We repaired everything that we could, but she lost a lot of blood, and..."
"Is she dead?" There was no emotion in his voice.
"No, but I have to be honest with you- the chances of her surviving are almost impossible. I'm surprised she's lasted this long, I don't like to give false hope so if she has a minister do to the last rites then this is the time."
"She won't need one. She'll survive." Logan said firmly. "I need to see her, where's her room?"
"Sir, I can't allow that. If you want her to survive then any infection you might carry in could be last blow."
"Wrap me up in cellophane and dip me in disinfectant but I am going in there. Like you said, it won't make a difference either way."
The doctor finally nodded. "Fine, I'll get one of the nurses to suit you up." He started to walk off when he turned around. "If...when she regains consciousness, she cannot be excited in anyway. Keep her calm, use whatever means you need."
The doctor walked off down the white hall leaving Logan to the ministrations of the nurse who had a very determined look on her face. Twenty minutes, two bars of soap, every crevice thoroughly cleaned, a green pants and t-shirt, mask, cap, gloves and a blush that Wolverine didn't think would ever go away, he was finally allowed in to see Jubilee.
A chair had been placed beside the bed in the private room, and he sat down holding her small hand in his, carefully not to undo any of the wires and tubing that seemed to surround her. Her face was pale, and she was hooked up to a respirator, a tube was coming out her nose, and he could hear the soft hiss as the machine breathed for her. The sweet smell of lavender and jasmine almost undetectable under the heavy scent of medicine and blood.
"Oh God, Jubilee." Touching her face, he ran a finger across the cool brow and put his head in his hands and wept.
-fin-
