Title: An Ending And A Beginning
Author: Phatz
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Don't own them. So get the hell off my back.
Summary: Logan and Marie's friendship takes a nosedive, but will it lead to something better? Or is it too late?
Authors Notes: Chapter 8. Um… that's all I gotta say right now. Enjoy.
~Thoughts~
Telepathic Speech
Chapter 8Marie sat in the library, curled up into a ball on one of the many plush chairs. Clutching Logan's dog tag, she closed her eyes and hummed softly to herself, disregarding her current chain of thought.
"Rogue?"
Marie's eyes shot open. "Oh, hi 'Ro."
"I didn't mean to startle you Rogue." Ororo said calmly. "Do you mind some company?"
"No, of course not."
Ororo walked gracefully to a chair near Rogue, and sat down. She looked at her friend with concerned eyes. Although Marie seemed to have been dealing with the absence of Logan much better, lately she has seemed more depressed, especially in private, when she thought no one was watching. Ororo and the others have even seen her sneak up into the attic, and spend the night in Logan's room. "A penny for your thoughts?" Ororo smiled lightly.
Marie smiled back. "It's nothing 'Ro." She looked at her hand, which held Logan's dog tag. Marie found it up in Logan's room a few weeks ago, and hasn't let it go since. An image of her throwing it at his head and yelling at him popped in her mind, and tears began to form in her eyes.
Ororo noticed Marie look at the dog tag. "Rogue, I know how you feel. We all miss him, and it is not your fault. And I know Logan does not and would not blame you. Besides, we will find him." Ororo gave Marie a soothing smile.
Marie shook her head. "No we won't 'Ro. Logan's dead. I know that."
"Rogue-"
"Tell me honestly 'Ro, do you think he is alive?"
"Child, you must not give up hope."
"He's been gone for a year and a half with no trace." The tears in her eyes began to fall freely. "I have to accept that he is gone."
Ororo didn't know what to say. When they first lost Logan, She was as convinced as Marie that they would find him, despite the doubtfulness everyone else felt, even the professor. But it has been a year and a half with no sign of him, and she had begun to seriously believe Logan was truly dead. The X-Men had raided many mutant testing facilities, never finding Logan, or any clues to his wereabouts.
"Rogue, I-" Ororo was cut off by a telepathic message from the professor. The X-Men were needed for a mission. "Rogue did you-"
"Yeah."
Ororo smiled. "We must go to the mission room." Marie nodded, and followed Ororo to the locker room. They quickly changed, and Marie slipped Logan's dog tag around her neck, tucking it into her leather uniform. Ororo and Marie then went to the lowest level of the mansion, where the mission briefing room was, and entered.
Everyone else was already there, and as soon as Ororo and Marie sat down, the professor began to explain the situation.
"Thanks to my contacts, I have determined the location of another lab that experiments on mutants." Professor Xavier explained. "It is located in Northern Alberta, Canada."
Scott took over. "This base is rather large, in fact, we have reason to believe they may have as many as one hundred mutants in this facility." The room collectively gasped.
"One hundred mutants?" Jubilee asked in disbelief.
"Possibly that many. I have attempted to determine how many mutants are being held captive, but I am having trouble differentiating their different brain patterns." Xavier explained. "It is all one jumbled mess. Around one hundred is my best guess."
"Our goal," Scott spoke again, "Is to shut down the lab, and retrieve and release as many mutants as possible. Because of the large number of mutants, we will be taking several of the planes, and split into groups of two. Jean and I will share one; Rogue and Jubilee in another, Bobby and Remy, Ororo and Kurt, and Hank, you unfortunately will be by yourself-"
"I will accompany Henry." Xavier said firmly.
"Are you sure professor?" Scott asked.
"Yes. Many of these mutant's minds will likely be in turmoil, and they may react to us violently. I can enter their minds and calm them, explain that we are not going to hurt them."
"But I can do that professor." Jean said worriedly. She didn't want Xavier on this mission. He was a father figure to her, to everybody really. And it could be dangerous, and the last thing she wanted was him hurt.
"Not by yourself. There might be too many."
"But professor-" Scott began.
"Enough Scott. I am going."
"Yes sir."
"Then let us get ready." The professor dismissed the X-Men, and they began to go to their jets. Marie knew it was unlikely, but a sudden flair of hope surfaced in her. If this lab had close to one hundred mutants, Logan might be there.
________________________________________________________________________
Logan sat in the corner of his dank and dark cell, with his knees drawn up to his chest. He didn't know how long he had been here. In fact he didn't know anything before here. He just woke up one day in this cell. All he knew was he hated this place. They controlled him. They made him kill. Although killing in itself did not bother him. He was an animal; it was only natural for him to kill. But he wanted to kill those men who hurt and controlled him, not people they told him to.
They also tortured him a lot. At first, he thought it was as punishment when he didn't do what they said. But after awhile, Logan realized they did it just for the hell of it, and that confused him. Why would they beat and torture him if he didn't do anything? Not to mention he seemed to heal right up afterwards, which he couldn't understand. None of the men here healed that quickly, and none of the other 'animals' here did either.
Although, he wasn't so sure he was an animal. He had those claws, but they weren't made of bone. They seemed to be made of the same stuff as his cell. He also looked like a man, and had two legs and two arms. However, he had senses like animals, and he growled. Animals did that. Plus he really couldn't speak. He seemed to be half animal, and half man. So he didn't really know what the hell he was.
Not that it mattered anyway. He was stuck here. He couldn't get out. He tried many times, but all it got him in the end was another round of beatings. The thing that scared him the most though, was that he was starting to get used to this place.
Logan leaned his head against the wall, and shut his eyes. Just as he expected, unwanted thoughts and images flooded his mind. Of the woman. He knew he knew her, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out how. In fact, in the flashes, all he could really see was long chestnut hair with a white streak. Everything else was a blur.
Logan's eyes shot open, and he banged his head against the smooth paved wall, to get the images out. He hated not knowing who he was, what he was, or who she was. He'd rather not think at all.
Logan closed his eyes again, when the building shook, and a distant sound of explosions startled him. Not knowing exactly what was going on, he continued to sit, and wait for the pain that was assuredly coming.
________________________________________________________________________
"What the hell is going on?!" Explosions muffled Stryker's yell, as the whole lab facility shook around him.
"It's the X-men, Sir!" A soldier replies. It was Davis. "They are attacking the base!"
Stryker glanced at the security monitors, and, as he expected, saw the X-Men split into at least three groups. It was a typical military tactic. Stryker turned back to Davis. "Well fight them! Kill them, capture them, I really don't give a shit! Just stop them!"
"We are trying sir, but it seems they have already incapacitated many of the guards."
"Who's in charge of those guards?"
"Roberts sir."
"Jesus Christ, I should have known. He always fucks everything up." Stryker scrubbed his face, when another explosion shook the building. This was bad. Really bad. "Can we fight them off?"
"With our current numbers? No."
"Damn it! I will no lose my life's work to a bunch of mutie freaks!" Stryker roared. There had to be a way to fight of these mutants. They were walking weapons, and had training. He hapless guards could not fight them. Stryker smiled. He had countless weapons here. "Do we still have access to the mutant holding chambers? We can send them to attack the X-Men."
"Unfortunately sir, that is not possible. The X-Men have occupied that area, and have already released about half of the mutants, sending them to safety."
"Christ, we lost thirty muties?"
Davis nodded. "Yes."
"Well why can't we stop them? We control them for God sakes. Their our weapons!"
"It seems Charles Xavier himself has accompanied his X-Men sir. He is controlling their minds and leading them to safety."
"Xavier…" Stryker gritted his teeth. He was screwed now and he knew it. There was no way he could stop, or control, the world's strongest telepath. "Any suggestions?"
"I say we flee sir."
"I guess we have no choice. Tell all the men who are not engaged with the X-Men to retreat. Leave the others." Stryker grabbed an automatic rifle hanging from the wall, and slung it over his shoulder. He may have lost this facility and his work, but he was going to kill as many mutants as he could on his way out. Just then, a thought hit him. "Did they get to Wolverine's cell?"
"Weapon X's? No sir. As you know, he is kept on the bottom floor, and they haven't reached…"
"Good. We will use the Exit on his floor. I have a surprise for Wolverine before I go."
________________________________________________________________________
The lights in Logan's cell went out, and he growled. All this noise and the lack of light was pissing him off. He knew those bastards were probably just fucking with his before they came and beat him, and he would much rather just get it over with. He didn't like waiting.
"Hello Wolverine." Logan knew that voice. It was the voice of the man who was the alpha male of this place. The leader. The one they called Stryker. Logan growled.
"Now, now, Wolverine. You should be happy to see me. After all, I consider myself a father to you. I did create you, like a father creates a son." Stryker stopped, and thought about what he just said. "However, I do not consider you my child, so that may be a moot point."
"Sir, we are running out of time. The X-men will be here soon." Davis said
"Of course." Stryker stood in front of the entrance to the cell. "We do not have much time Wolverine, so I will make this quick. Davis, open the door." As the cell door opened, Logan unsheathed his claws and leapt at Stryker, a furious growl emanating from the depths of his soul, if he even had one. Unfortunately, Logan failed to see the gun Stryker carried.
Logan couldn't tell what happened until after Stryker unloaded the clip into him, the bullets ripping through his flesh with sickening ease. Logan crumpled to the floor.
"Imbecile." Stryker muttered, kneeling in front of Logan's prone form. "It would seem that your friends are here, no doubt to rescue you. I don't like that." Logan moved, and Stryker shot him some more. He grunted in pain. "So, in essence, it is your fault this place, my life's work, is crumbling around me. They can have those other mutant's, but the can't have you."
Stryker held up a remote. "Do you know what this is Wolverine?" Logan didn't make a sound. "I thought so. Well, I implanted a chip to the metal skull of yours, and when I press this button, the chip will activate, electrocuting you." Stryker smiled. "Adamantium makes a fine conductor for electricity. I do believe you would not heal from that."
Stryker stood up, and walked out of the cell. He turned back to Logan, and looked at him straight in the eyes. "See you in hell Wolverine." He pushed the button.
An agonizing pain flowed through Logan's body, as he convulsed uncontrollable on the floor. He smelled – and felt, his own flesh burning, until he passed out from the pain. His last thought was that he hoped he did die.
________________________________________________________________________
Marie ran down the hallways of the lab, Jubilee right behind her. Scott told them to stay with the team, but now that she was here in this lab, she knew Logan was here, somewhere. And they still haven't found him.
"Rogue," Jubilee huffed, "Hey Rogue!"
Marie stopped running, and turned to look at Jubilee. "What is it Jubes? We gotta find Logan."
"Are you sure he is here chica? I mean the professor hasn't sensed him."
"I'm sure. I don't know how… I just feel him, ya know?"
"No, no I don't know." Jubilee shook her head. She thought Marie had accepted that Logan was gone, but since this mission started, she has been hell bent on locating him, swearing he was in her. Jubilee feared the worst if he wasn't.
Marie sniffed. "Jubes, you smell that?"
Jubilee sniffed the air, and almost choked. "Oh God, that smell like burnt flesh. Where is it coming from?"
Marie continued to sniff the air, and pointed at a door. "In there."
Jubilee and Marie walked swiftly to the door, and entered. The smell of burnt flesh increased by ten-fold; almost make Marie and Jubilee vomit. After gathering herself, Marie strained her eyes to see better. The room was bathed in darkness.
"See anything Rogue?"
"No… you?"
"Nope."
"Ok, let's search in here further. There's gotta be something in here. I say we follow the smell."
"To what, a dead body? No thanks."
"We should find out who it is. It could be one of the leader's of this lab. We haven't found them yet you know." Marie took Jubilee's grumbled response as a 'yes'. She followed the stench deeper into the room, using Logan's enhanced senses. Eventually, she came up to a cell, with what appeared to be a body inside. In the dim light she could tell it was a man. And that he was burned badly, but healing. Marie gasped. "Jubes! I think… I think its Logan!"
"What?" Jubilee came running up beside Marie, and almost vomited for the second time. The burnt flesh and the stench of it almost doing her in. "That guy's dead."
"No, look. He's healing."
Jubilee noticed. "So, they could have another mutant who heals. I mean, I saw one with powers just like mine…" The body on the floor moved, and groaned in pain.
"Logan?" Marie asked, hope flashing over her face. Marie gasped as Logan stood on wobbly knees, his body still healing, though his face is completely healed. He has long, dirty hair too his shoulders, and his muttonchops are gone, now replaced with a full beard. He is also completely naked. She notices a dog tag hanging from his neck, with the words 'Weapon X' imprinted on it. Along with a number. The same number as her dog tag. "Logan?"
Logan's eyes snapped into alertness, as a familiar scent washed over him. Familiar, yet distant. He knows that scent, but he doesn't know how he knows it. As his eyes focus on the source of that scent, he sees a young woman, with chestnut hair and a white streak. The image from his mind.
"Logan?" Marie stepped forward, and Logan responded with a warning growl. He did not know this woman. She was in a uniform. She was there to hurt him. That's what people did to animals. Although he did not want to hurt her unless he had too. He wasn't that savage. "Logan, it's me, Marie." She stepped closer.
Logan unsheathed his claws, and with a primal fury lunged at Marie, Shoving his claws in her stomach. He felt the muscle and flesh and bone rip and give under them. He also felt and smelt her blood pouring out.
"Rogue!" Jubilee ran towards Marie and Logan, not believing what she was seeing. Logan stabbed Marie with every intention of killing her. She had to help her.
Logan saw Jubilee out of the corner of his eye, and when she got within range, he backhanded her across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground. He couldn't deal with that woman now. The other one wasn't dead yet.
"Logan…" Logan turned his head back to the girl with the streak, and stared into her eyes. She was crying. But they weren't tears of pain. They were tears of… sadness? He didn't know. And then the images flashed through his mind again, and the slightly familiar scent wafted over him, and suddenly, he did not want her to die.
Marie saw the recognition and regret flash in Logan's eyes; even if was for a second. She smiled weakly, and raised her hand to his forehead. "I'm sorry." As the connection opened, Marie felt his thoughts flow into her, and the wound on her stomach slowly heal.
As Logan crumbled to the floor, Marie clutched her head, beating back the images from Logan's mind. Pain, death, anger, sadness, pain and more pain. She couldn't handle it, and began to cry.
"Rogue?" Jubilee kneeled on the ground, clutching the cheek that Logan had hit. She glanced at Marie. She was healed, and Logan was on the floor, passed out. She must have touched him with her power on. "Rogue, you ok?"
"Jubilee, get the others" Marie sobbed. "We need to get Logan back to the mansion."
"Ok." Jubilee ran out of the room, mentally calling for the professor.
Marie sat next to Logan's still form, and hugged him to her. "It's ok Logan, I'm here now." The tears continued to flow, as she waited for help.
(To be continued…)