Packed: Part Two

DISCLAIMER: Marvel owns all the Marvel characters. Anyone you don't recognize is one of mine. The person telling the story is also me. No money is involved (story of my life). Inspired by the cover of Uncanny X-Men 403 (I think that's the one).

SUMMARY: As the dream itself mutates and changes so must the way criminals are dealt with. Jubilee and Logan have become mutant police and capture me by mistake, a mistake they may regret since it triggered my dormant lycanthropy. Now I must learn how to control it amongst strangers.

FEEDBACK: Please send feedback of any kind (praise, flaming, constructive criticism, etc.) to naiya@mauimail.com

*****

"Should have done that first furball," I said through gritted teeth and glanced around in case there were more of them.

Instead, Stan came out from the bar shotgun in hand and rested it on his shoulder while he assured his customers that our little scene was some type of new "live-action" show. Then he introduced himself as the 'sheriff' and walked into the poolroom.

"What did you do this time Tyna? I told you it was dangerous breaking hearts." He pumped a round into the shotgun's chamber and brought it to bear down on Carl's captor.

"All hell breaks loose and you automatically assume it's my fault. Gee it's good to know I have such wonderful friends." That got me a laugh from our audience. Patience wasn't my strong suit and my arms were getting tired. Small spikes of pain rippled through my fingers from gripping too hard. Even my palms were slick with sweat. Against all good judgement I removed the cue stick from the woman's neck and shoved her towards the men.

"There's my only gesture of good will. Let him go and we'll talk. He dies; you die right after him," I promised nodding my head at Stan. His signature, crooked smile played across his face until his gaze fell on my hands. All emotion drained from his face, a look I had come to recognized as Stan's deadly, I'm gonna send you to your maker look. Somehow though I don't think the look was meant for me.

Curious I looked down at my hands. You know how something becomes real once you notice it? I guess the throbbing in my hands should have been a hint. They looked about twice the size they should, the nails elongated into sharp claws. Four bloody semi-circles adorned each palm where the tips had pierced when I had detained the woman.

That same weird power feeling returned whipping around my body in a cool wind. For a few moments it circled increasing in speed and intensity. I glanced from Stan to Carl desperate for some sort of explanation.

All at once it stopped and I relaxed a little. Big mistake. My skin crawled fit to tear away from my body. Every nerve felt exposed, like some great hand had dragged me across diamond encrusted, burning hot coals. I was no longer in control, my muscles convulsing bones breaking. Screams tore from my mouth almost faster than I could draw breath.

Liquid thicker than sweat poured from my tortured body and the world became hazed in a golden hue. Overwhelmed by sensations buffeting me from all sides, I felt my consciousness slip away. "Carl," I cried and it ended in a howl. *What the hell* then blackness swallowed me whole.

*****

I struggled to swim up from the formless nightmares I was having. When I broke through the surface of unconsciousness, I could smell metal and plastic all around me and I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore. Those two must have overwhelmed Stan and taken me hostage. Damn it!

There was the uniquely flat metallic taste of blood in my mouth and I couldn't remember anything tasting so sweet. Um...that didn't sound right. When did blood register on my list of yummy things? As I sucked on my tongue to clear my mouth of the taste, I became aware of another; raw meat and it didn't repulse me either.

More sensations flooded my senses. I didn't feel right but I didn't have time to open my eyes and check. Footsteps, light and heavy, approached and I feigned sleep. Their muffled conversation became clearer when I concentrated on the sounds.

"We blew it Wolvie. She's not the one we were sent to retrieve."

"I know darlin' but she's a dead ringer for the 'shifter we we're chasin'."

"She is a shifter."

"Not a mutant shifter though. Hank said 'her sequences are clearly missing the "X" gene'"

"So that means..."

"Yep, that means..."

"The Prof said to let her sleep until she changes back. Why do you have to go in there?"

"Because long time ago, someone helped me work through losing my humanity. I've gotta see if there's anything left of her in there."

"You don't know her. How will you be able to tell?"

"If she cuts me up without hesitation, we'll know."

"Cuts you up? Are you nuts!"

They stopped talking and I heard an automatic door slide open. Fresh air gave me a new bearing on his scent and I didn't wait for an engraved invitation. I was on top of him before I really thought of what I was doing. What was that growling noise? Holy shit, it was I!

My hands pinned his wrists to the ground and I straddled his belly. Strength flowed and it felt incredible. I've never felt so physically powerful in all my life. Being petite gives you a complex, you know. I stared down my muzzle at his face...wait one damn minute, muzzle?

He must have sensed my confusion and made his move. I went flying backwards. Frightened, I twisted mid-air and it the far wall feet first. Letting my body do the work was becoming a habit. In the space of a breath I kicked off the wall and landed on the balls of my feet in the middle of the room. Instinctively I hunched down, arms spread wide and flexed my clawed hands.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the highly polished steel wall. There wasn't a single stitch of clothing left but I didn't feel naked. Deep auburn fur covered every inch of my body, longer over my breasts and groin, short everywhere else. The regular head hair fanned out and formed a ridge down my back and merged with my tail. Large, pricked ears with tufts of hair on the tips stuck straight up from the sides of my wolf head. Sleek muscles I don't ever remember having rippled with the slightest movement.

Movement drew my attention back to the center of the cell. 'Wolvie' - I remembered the Chinese woman called him that - was on his feet. Anger surged through my body as we sized each other up, the ridge of fur on my back stood on end, my ears folded back almost flat against my head. I consciously drew a deep breath and growled low and long, my lips pulling back to reveal very white, very long fangs.

No one made a move; we had another stand off on our hands. An answering rumble erupted from his chest octaves lower but it didn't feel threatening. In fact he was backing away slowly palms upturned. He seemed to be saying 'I won't hurt you'. The last of my anger seeped away when he sunk down to his haunches; his rumble never ceased.

A wave of exhaustion hit me like a Mack truck. I felt like gravity had magnified ten times over and collapsed seconds before that searing pain returned. The fur receded in the wake of the hot fluid. Somehow I suspected that would happen each time I changed. Excruciatingly slow, my body reverted to human form and all I could do was cry silently while it happened. I didn't have the energy to scream.

Within minutes I was lying naked in a puddle of my own fluid shivering uncontrollably. Wolvie knelt beside me. The Chinese woman knelt beside him and covered me with a soft blanket. I tried to tell her that the blanket will be ruined but it came out as a whimper. "I'm Jubilee," she said, brushing my soaked hair away from my face.

Normal kidnappers didn't act so civil. "Who?" I managed too tired to form complete sentences.

"Later. Ya need some rest now." Wolvie rolled my limp body in the blanket and lifted me into his arms. Jubilee accompanied us chattering about how I was going to like it here and that I could borrow some clothes until she and I could go shopping. Female bonding took me longer that usual. Something about constantly being around my own sex bugged the shit out of me. Right now there was nothing I could do but go with the flow.

Speaking of flow, the fluid was starting to dry to a sticky gum-like consistency. I felt like strung out saltwater taffy. There was no way I was falling asleep like this no matter how tired I felt. "Bath," I whispered not really believing I'd be heard. Wolvie continued on and my hopes sunk. I guess sleep is out of the question.

We rounded the corner and a woman with red hair was waiting with clothes in one arm, two towels draped over the other. She handed them to Jubilee and smiled down at me. "Don't worry dear, Logan has very sensitive ears. He conveyed your request to me."

At that I frowned. I was pretty sure he hadn't said anything.

*We have different/faster ways of communicating here* a voice sounded in my head. It felt like the woman standing in front of me. Don't ask me to explain that, I don't even know.

*Uh hello* I thought back feeling a little silly, like I was talking silently to myself. I've done it at times never expecting an answer.

*Hi there hon, I'm Jean* she replied. Her head voice was smooth, like liquid chocolate. I had a mental image of rolling around in mounds of silk, warm and comforting yet not enough to deter me away from wanting a bath.

"You'd better get her in there," Jean said out loud and nodded towards the end of the hallway. At that she left, her parting thought *we'll talk when you're more yourself*

The trouble was, I didn't think I knew me anymore.