Vindicator

"So you finally finished your little power suit huh?" Logan looked at him. "Pretty dorky if you ask me."

"Laugh all you like," James said. "This suit evens the odds between you and me and then some."

"We've been over this before Jimbo," Logan snapped. "I'm not your weapon. I made a deal to leave with Xavier long ago."

"What Xavier wants is immaterial. You're Canadian. It's your patriotic duty to return with me. Alpha Flight needs you."

"Sorry bub, but I already have a team that needs me," Logan pointed out.

"Listen Logan, like it or not you're coming back with me," James told him.

"Yeah right," Logan folded his arms. "I resigned Jimmy Boy. I cut my ties…and Chasen's long ago. Xavier made sure of that. I'm an X-Man now so buzz off."

"You always were a royal pain in the butt," James snapped at him. "Just as ornery as your namesake but if you insist on doing this the hard way…"

"Those sound like fighting words," Logan shot out his claws. "And if it's a fight you want…" He attacked. "It's a fight you've got!"

James reacted quickly. Good lord! He's faster than ever! I barely got up my force shields in time! He thought. It' s a damn good thing I made an overhaul to the circuitry last week! Otherwise he'd have just torn me to shreds! He masked his nervousness with bravado. "Not bad Logan, you throw a good punch as ever! Now let me see you take one!" He gave Logan a good right cross.

"I do all right Jimbo," Logan snarled as he hit back. "Too bad you keep forgetting that no matter how hard you hit me, I'll just keep coming back!" Big talk Logan, that punch nearly tore your head off, adamantium skeleton or not! That glowing suit he's wearing evens us out!

Time to take a different tactic, James flew upwards.

"Aw cripes you can fly?" Logan snapped.

"Pretty perceptive," James told him. "My battle suit is the ultimate product of Canadian technology. It's powers combined with my training make me equal, if not better than any X-Man!"

"Prove it Jimmy boy!" Logan snapped. "Cause until then you're all mouth!"

"How's this for all mouth?" James snarled as he used his speed to ram right into him.

They both flew straight through the trees. Right past where the others were relaxing. "WHAT'S GOING ON?" Scott shouted.

Oh great…James thought. Witnesses. What are those X-Kids doing here?

Jinx ran up to an unconscious Logan. "Logan! Can you hear me? Logan?"

That's the woman he was with yesterday, James scanned her. Files say she's with…GI JOE? This is not good.

"Get out of my way," James put up a front. "This is Canadian business."

"No, Logan is our friend and instructor," Peter stepped in front of him. "If you want to go through him costumed man you will have to go through me."

"Your funeral big fella…" James prepared to fight. Now what was the Russian kid able to do? Damn it! I knew I should have paid more attention to intelligence!

Peter grinned. "I do not think so." He then transformed into his armored form and knocked James across the field using his strength.

Oh yeah…now I remember…James thought as he sailed though a few trees. Fortunately his battle suit was able to take most of the damage. When he finally stopped he grabbed giant fir log. "Okay Kid, I tried to be nice. But now I'm gonna have to teach you some manners!"

"I don't think so. When you attack one X-Man you attack us all!" Ororo shouted, conjuring up a lightning blast which turned the tree into cinders.

Oh this is just great! Not what I had in mind for a field test! James thought. "Lady you throw a mean zap! But I'm no slouch in that department either!" He shot out an electric charge.

Peter used his armored form to shield Ororo. The charge zapped off of his body and knocked Tabitha across the head. She screamed and fell back into the lake.

"TABITHA!" Sam screamed.

Coming up! The battle concludes!