Chapter Three: Tyger, Tiger, Burning Bright!
The characters in this fic, by and large, do not belong to me. The X-Men, and related characters, are the property of Marvel Comics. GI Joe, and related characters, belong to Hasbro. The Delgado children (Althea, Brittany, Daria, Quinn, and Claudius), Xi, Sgt Snuffles, and the Eloi belong to Red Witch.
Later that night, people started to come to the Princess Bar. They were a mix of foreigners and locals, rich and poor, well dressed and not so much, male and female (etc., etc.).
Jinx took a look around the room, mingling, blending in until this… Tyger Tiger came by.
"Great place, isn't it?" Jessica asked her.
"Yeah," Jinx agreed. She'd never been anywhere like it, that's for sure.
Suddenly, Jessica started laughing. Taking a look at where the other woman was looking, all Jinx saw was a man sitting between two women. The three looked up, and saw Jessica. One of the women waved. Her companions blushed and looked down.
"What's so funny?" Jinx asked.
"See the man and the women over there?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, the two that are blushing are married."
"So?"
"So, a while back, they came to me- separately- and told me that they suspected that the other one was having an affair. They hired me to watch each other."
"And did you?"
"Oh yeah," Jessica snorted. "It turns out that neither one was having an affair- as such."
"As such?"
"Yup. Turns out that both hubby and wifey get their kicks out of being spanked. They went to the same place to get their kicks- the Red Lash."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. You see the woman with them?"
"Don't tell me-" Jinx laughed.
"Yup- she serviced hubby on his lunch breaks and wifey later in the afternoon. Well, after a week of stringing them along and laughing my ass off, I called the three of them to my office. After watching my clients sputter for a while, I explained the situation and gave back some of my pay to apologize for almost giving them heart attacks. I suggested that they start planning their social events together, and I guess they took my advice."
Jinx and Jessica shared a laugh.
"So you must be a private investigator," Jinx said when she stopped laughing.
"Uh-huh," Jessica smiled. "I'm one half of Drew-McCabe Investigations. My partner, Lindsay McCabe, is in America right now, visiting her folks, leaving me to hold the fort."
"Partner?"
"Fellow PI- and don't worry- I'm not one of Logan's many conquests."
"Many conquests?"
"Uh oh," Jessica laughed, "did I just get the Canucklehead in trouble?"
"That depends on how- Canucklehead?"
"An old nickname."
"Ah."
The two were quiet for a moment.
"So, Jessica, if you don't mind my asking- how did you meet Logan?"
"He helped me get started here as a favour to a mutual friend, name of Nick Fury."
"You know Col. Fury?"
"Oh yeah," Jessica nodded, and then frowned.
Jinx sensed it was a sore subject, so she let it drop.
"So did Professor Xavier try to recruit you to his Institute?" Jinx asked, although she had a good idea of the answer.
"He did- and still does, from time to time- but I turned him down, obviously. I'm happy here. I mean, okay, it's an absolute shithouse, but I've met some of the most interesting people alive in my time here, and some of the nicest, and some of the finest, and a lot of my best friends were made here, so what the hell? I can take the bad if it means I get the good. Besides," Jessica suddenly frowned, "my relationship with my abilities is… bittersweet. I've done some things that… can't be taken back, and I figure that young mutants shouldn't become unduly afraid of what they can do, which is something I might accidentally teach them."
"Is one of your best friends Tyger Tiger?"
"Yeah," Jessica said after a moment, "she is. But don't let her know that! See, Tyger's not evil. She's no saint, and no one will say that she is, but she's about as good a person as a crimelord can be. She ended the slave- forgive me, free worker- trade, she doesn't deal much in heavy drugs, and she usually doesn't run guns. Madripoor seems to need a crimelord- it always has- and for my money, I'd rather live with Tyger Tiger in charge than anybody else. Yeah, so when somebody's threatening to bring her organization down, a lot of us help out, because we know the alternative- which would be Generalissimo Ngoc Coy Nguyen, who is a right bastard."
"He's that bad, huh?"
"Oh yeah." More silence.
"So," Jinx finally asked, "how did you see my cousin without his mask? He always wears it on- open duty."
"He was wearing it, or trying to," Jessica wickedly grinned, "but he wasn't using it to cover his face."
Jinx burst out laughing.
"That Tyger, she's insatiable," Jessica went on. "Your friends had to practically yank her off of him!"
Jessica joined Jinx in laughing. Across the room, Logan smiled as he watched them. Jess was a friend- a good one. He was glad that Mariko got along with his old friends (old as in pre X-Men days).
"It's serious between you two, isn't it?" Seraph asked him from where she was standing (to his right).
"I think so," Logan smiled.
"Then it's has to be," Seraph said as she got up to stand on the unused table next to him. "You're not being sure is the best clue. Well, that and the way you look at her- I've never seen you look at anyone quite like that. If she means that much to you, don't you dare let her go!"
"That's the plan," Logan grunted, and took a swig of his beer (Molson Canadian, which Seraph always kept around just in case he ever showed up, bless her).
"I want to see you get married one day, young man," Seraph went on. Logan smiled- she was one of the few people that could call him 'young man' and actually have it be true.
"We'll see," he replied noncommittally, if only to get Seraph's hair up.
"Why you-" but Logan cut her off by pointing over at Storm Shadow. A woman that Logan hadn't seen in far too long was managing to sneak up on him.
"Hello, Tommy," a low voice said into Storm Shadow's ear. Turning around, he saw Tyger Tiger, dark eyes blazing, smiling seductively at him.
"It has been a long time, Jessan," Storm Shadow bowed. If she was going to drop names, she deserved to know that he could remember names too.
"You remember," she smiled.
"Of course. It- it is good to see you again."
"And it's good to see you, and I'd love to show you around the city, but somehow, I think you're here on business, and for some reason, I think it's with me."
"You are correct, as always," Storm Shadow nodded. "But your business is with me, and with her," he nodded over at Jinx, "and especially with him," he gesture at Logan. Tyger's eyes widened.
"Lo- Patch?" she whispered.
"I know his name," Storm Shadow told her.
"Why am I not surprised?" Tyger linked her arm through Storm Shadow's and dragged him to where Logan and Seraph were talking.
"Tyger," Logan nodded.
"Patch," she responded.
They stared at each other for a while before embracing.
"It has been a long time, Logan," Tyger whispered.
"Too long, Jessan," he whispered back. They broke the embrace.
"So, what is your business with me?" Tyger asked softly, so only Logan, Seraph, Storm Shadow, Jinx, and Jessica- who had joined the group when they spotted Tyger- could hear.
"In the back," Seraph muttered. "You know where. I have to stay out here, but Jessica goes with you."
"Okay," Logan shrugged. The five went into the back, and opened up a well-concealed room that was reserved for private meetings.
"This is serious, isn't it?" Tyger asked. "What do you need?"
Logan recapped the Psylocke situation for her.
"That is serious," she frowned.
"So what can you tell us about the Hand? Rose in Hong Kong told us about their civil war, and about the Mandarin."
"Well, to start with, the Hand is still rebuilding. There's not much to tell because they haven't done anything big yet. But something's coming," Tyger shuddered. "I've met the Mandarin."
"That bad, huh?" Jinx asked.
"You have no idea. He's… got powers."
"He's a mutant?" Logan asked, extremely interested.
"No, I don't think so. He has these rings- ten of them. They can do things- they can make him fly, allow him to incinerate or freeze things… even to disintegrate someone. He met with me, and gave the usual new crimelord speech- 'new management,' 'hope you can work with us,' 'stay out of our way,' 'can and will kill you.' He killed one of his own men just to make that point. I heard that every time he met with a major player, he did the same thing, and I believe it."
The others knew why Tyger was unnerved. Killing someone who worked for the person you were threatening to make a point was one thing, but killing your own man to make a point required insanity or profound cruelty. If the Mandarin killed his own men to make a point, especially if it was just for the effect of it, then he was someone to be greatly respected (as no crimelord would ever admit to fear).
"Is he capable of messing with people's minds like that? I'd have to say yes, and he would ally with anyone he had to in order to do it, if he decided to do it. But I don't know what this Frost woman would get out of it. Unless…" Tyger suddenly frowned.
"Unless," Storm Shadow prompted.
"Normally, I wouldn't bring this up, but… shortly after the dust settled, I heard a rumour. I'd usually just discount it, but I heard it too many times and from too many people to just ignore it. It's about a young ninja, who is only half-Japanese. The ninja's master was killed in the war, and the young man was, by honour, supposed to avenge his master's death and then kill himself."
"Seppuku," Jinx nodded. "Go on."
"Well, the master was avenged, and unlike the rest of the ninjas, this young man didn't kill himself. The leaders of the Hand were pissed- they ordered his execution for his dishonour, but the ninja's western parent, who is rich and powerful, caught wind of this, and arranged a deal to spare the ninja's life. The ninja was booted out of the Hand, and their ninjas were ordered on pain of not-dying to do nothing to him, or to even approach him ever again."
The three ninja disciples looked at each other in shock. The Hand was a Japanese organization, which held to the old ways. For the leadership of the Hand to agree to let such a blatant disregard of giri slide was incredible!
"Do you know any names?" Jessica asked. She wasn't a ninja disciple, so she wasn't shocked in the least.
"None. It was the last rumour I heard about the Hand, too. The Mandarin came into power not long after."
"I gather it's scandalous?" Jessica asked.
"If it's true?" Jinx asked. "Oh, yeah."
"That could be the connection we're looking for," Storm Shadow mused. "Spare one dishonourable ninja; get an army of mutant ninja in return."
"Your theory is looking more plausible now, doesn't it?" Tyger asked.
"Yeah," Logan said grimly.
Suddenly, the sounds of fighting and screaming came from outside. The five went to investigate.
As Logan left the room, he stopped and sniffed.
"Sabretooth," he growled.
"Creed? Here?" Jessica asked. "But Nguyen exiled him, too, didn't he?"
"He rescinded it a while back," Tyger said grimly. "He needed Sabretooth to hunt some kids who had the audacity to assault his statue with rocks."
"So that's what happened to them!" Jessica gasped. "If I ever get my hands on that…"
"Take a number, Jess," Tyger growled.
"Get out here, 'Patch!'" a bestial voice roared. "I got some business with ya!"
Emerging from the back, they saw Sabretooth standing tall in the middle of the room, holding a frightened woman by the throat. He was surrounded by unmoving bodies.
Jinx growled and went to move.
"Hold it, ninja," another voice said calmly. Turning, she saw a tall, lean man with black shoulder-length hair and a moustache pointing a strange looking (but huge) gun at her.
"Grey Crow," Logan said, not looking at the man, "put the gun down. I'm not here ta kick your ass, bub, but that can change."
"Sorry, Wolverine," Grey Crow said passively. "See, I've got business with Creed, and he won't be in the business mood until he fights you. I'm on a deadline, so kindly beat up on each other before I have to step in."
"I can handle this, Scalphunter," Sabretooth snarled. He looked at Logan. "I ain't getting any younger, runt."
Wolverine unsheathed his claws.
"Where's Seraph?" he demanded.
"Right here," Seraph said, stepping out from behind the bar carrying a sawed off shotgun. "Put that thing down, Grey Crow. You know which one of us is faster. And you-" she directed to Sabretooth, "you put her down. The people that come in here are my guests, and are under my protection. Understood?" Scalphunter lowered his weapon. Sabretooth didn't lower the woman.
"Not until I get what I want," he snarled. Logan stepped toward him.
"Not in here!" Seraph shouted.
"Put her down, Creed, an' you and me, we step outside. Deal?"
"Deal," Sabretooth grinned. He threw the woman to the ground. After a nod from Seraph, Jessica went to check on the woman. Logan and Sabretooth went to the door, Jinx, Storm Shadow, and Tyger followed, watching but not interfering. The door slammed open before either man could open it.
"NOBODY MOVE!" a voice screamed as several members of the General's personal guard rushed into the Princess Bar. Within moments, the soldiers had guns trained on almost everybody, with those left over trained at Wolverine and Sabretooth.
"Patch," a voice said pleasantly as its owner entered the room, "I would say it is good to see you again, but I must wonder at what you are doing in a city you have been exiled from." The speaker was a tall man in an overcoat, carrying a machine gun.
"Nguyen," Logan replied evenly. "I'd say it's good ta see you too, but I'm wondering at how they managed to get ya down from your ceiling."
"Oh, it wasn't easy, what with the five layers of duct tape you used to put me up there," General Ngoc Coy Nguyen smiled.
"I'll bet," Logan smiled.
"You'd win. Oh look, there's something on your wrist." Nguyen shot the teleportation watch off of Logan's wrist. Made of adamantium, it wasn't destroyed, but it wasn't of any use to him until he could get it. Figures Nguyen would recognize a top-secret device the moment he saw it. Logan wondered how many palms Nguyen had to grease to even know of the teleporter's existence.
"Seraph," Nguyen said, nodding to her, "I would question why you didn't inform me of this criminal's presence the moment he came here, but I know that you are a weak old woman, and young, strong men frighten you- as well they should."
"Yeah?" Logan asked. "So what are you going to do about your new criminal element?"
"Creed," Nguyen smiled. Sabretooth's eyes went wild with anticipation. "Get out of the way."
"What?"
Sabretooth roared. "He's mine!"
"Get out of the way, or get shot down- it's your decision!" Nguyen snapped. Grumbling, Sabretooth did so.
"Now, Logan, aka Patch, aka Wolverine, aka more aliases than I'm aware of, I'm sure," Nguyen smiled as he and his men raised their guns and pointed them at him, "you have been found on Madripoor after you were legally exiled for the crimes you committed during your last stay. As you are in violation of the No Return Act, you shall be executed immediately, in the name of His Highness, Prince Baran."
"There's no such thing as the No Return Act!" Seraph shouted.
"It was drafted an hour ago, and came into effect at about, oh, right now," the General smirked.
"You can't do that!" Jessica snapped.
"Ah, Ms. Drew. I thought I saw you here. I think you'll find that as administrator of Madripoor, I can do almost anything I please to uphold the laws of our precious home. Now, Logan, I find you guilty of High Crimes against Madripoor and sentence you to death. I do so in the name of His Highness, Prince-"
"COBRAAAAAA!" Cobra soldiers shouted as they entered the Princess Bar. They were followed by the Dreadnoks, riding their motorcycles through the windows.
All hell broke loose.
The Madripoor soldiers fired on the Cobras, who fired back.
The bystanders made for the door en masse.
The Dreadnoks went for Storm Shadow and Jinx, even as Sabretooth attacked Logan.
Storm Shadow and Zartan were already trading blows, Jinx squared off against Zarana, and Tyger and Jessica took on Zanya and Zandar, while Seraph and Grey Crow were making Ripper, Buzz Saw, Road Pig, and Torch dive for cover.
From his position behind a table, Nguyen saw Logan, and shot him twice in the stomach. There was no way he would be cheated of his revenge!
"Ahh!" Logan cried as he went down. Sabretooth grinned and prepared to finish off his enemy. Jessica saw him. In one swift motion, Zandar was on his back, and she pointed her hands at Sabretooth. A bolt of crackling greenish-yellow energy flew from her hands and hit Sabretooth. The mutant yelled in pain, and then dropped unconscious.
"So that's what you can do, huh?" Jinx called.
"Among other things," Jessica called back.
"The bird's a mutant!" Zandar shouted.
"I noticed!" Zartan called back as Storm Shadow put him on the defensive.
After a few minutes more of the melee, Zartan managed to get away from Storm Shadow long enough to shout "Cobra! Retreat!"
'Damn, I just quoted that face-plated coward!' he groaned mentally.
The Dreadnoks got on their bikes and hightailed it out of there, as the Cobra soldiers retreated too, pursued by the General's troops.
From his hiding place, Nguyen stood up, only to feel cold metal slash his stomach. He cried out, and fell down. Looking up, he saw a very angry Logan looking down at him.
"That was for the shots," he growled. "And to make us even, I only used two claws. But don't worry- you an' me, we ain't done yet." He left the bar, followed by Storm Shadow, Jinx, Jessica, and Tyger.
"No, we are not done yet," Nguyen whispered before he started hollering for a doctor.
***
"Well, that was fun," Jinx smirked as they stopped in the alley that she, Storm Shadow, and Logan used as an entrance.
"It's been a while since I had a good bar brawl," Logan grunted.
"How are you feeling, Logan?" Tyger asked him.
"Just peachy, Tyger. I just have to get these bullets out is all."
"I see. Well then…" her voice trailed off. It was time for them to go.
"Goodbye Logan," she whispered as she hugged him. "Be well."
"Stay well, Jessan," he whispered as he hugged her back.
It was Jessica's turn to hug Logan.
"Tell Seraph- no. She'll know," Logan said.
"Will do. Bye, Logan. Don't be a stranger."
"Never, darlin'."
Jinx and Jessica hugged, and Tyger went up to Storm Shadow.
"Don't you be a stranger, either, sexy," she purred as she leaned in to kiss him. One hand pinched his buttock. "Mmm- firm as ever."
"Be well, Tyger," he muttered, as he openly blushed.
"Oh, I plan to."
After Tyger shook Jinx's hand, and Storm Shadow shook Jessica's hand, the three visitors teleported away.
"So what now?" Jessica asked.
"Now, we see if we can't find out more about the Hand," Tyger said firmly, and Jessica nodded. "You agree? Good. Consider yourself hired."
***
Sabretooth returned to consciousness freezing. Somebody had thrown a bucket full of cold water on him.
"Glad to see you're awake," Grey Crow said sardonically.
"Don't tell me the runt did this to me," Sabretooth muttered.
"Nope. It turns out that Ms. Drew is a mutant. She zapped you in the back."
"When I-"
"Don't push your luck. Besides- we're here to talk business, remember?"
"Yeah? So talk."
Grey Crow smiled.
"How long has it been since your bucket-headed boss let you have a vacation?"
"Too long. Why?"
"Well, how'd you like to go hunting with me and some… friends?"
"If I wanna hunt dumb animals-"
"Who said you'd be hunting animals?"
***
By the time they got to the Princess Bar, the General was being carted off to the hospital by an ambulance.
"This weak old woman hopes that you get well soon, General," Seraph said brightly as the doors closed on the snarling Nguyen.
As the ambulance drove away, Seraph began to chuckle. She, and her bar, had been important fixtures in Madripoor since before Nguyen was even born. He knew all too well how she felt about him, and that she tacitly (and sometimes actively) supported his enemies, but he could never prove it. He could make her disappear, but she was too well like among the people of Madripoor, and she had many powerful friends internationally. If she ever vanished, he wouldn't last much longer as Administrator of Madripoor, and they both knew it.
Minutes later, her friends returned to the bar, and they went inside, to survey the damage.
Jessica gasped. She had never seen the Bar look so bad. She could only guess at how Seraph was feeling.
"Jessica, how much would you say it costs to fix this place back up?" Seraph asked quietly.
Jessica tried to tally the damage.
"A whole whack of money," she finally said.
"Tyger, how much would you say I'd have to spend to fix this place?"
"A great deal of money," Tyger finally said. She could accurately appraise the value of stolen artwork, could calculate the cost of British Columbian marijuana down to the last milligram, but insurance was beyond her.
Suddenly, Seraph smiled broadly.
"Ladies, what's the value of knowing that my insurance company, owned by our dear General Nguyen, will pay for every last cent of repairs?"
Jessica and Tyger looked at each other, grinned broadly, and looked down at Seraph.
"Priceless," they said in unison.
Well, say bye-bye to Madripoor! This is the last we'll see of her for a while- or is it? Next time, on "The Mutant Massacre," Pietro pays a visit to the Institute, lust is in the air, and dating hijinks ensue. Stay tuned for "The Mutant Massacre":
Chapter Four: Dating Difficulties!