Greeting and Salutations. This suckers slightly longer than normal, but I said there'd be action in this one and, by golly, I was going to deliver (did I just type that? I'm looing my… no wait. Never mind). So, here you. Two fight scenes (or there abouts) and Buffy goes wild! WOO-HOO!
Extreme X-Men HQ Location unknown"I still do not believe this is wise," Sage said, as she and Storm waited for Logan.
"I know, but the girls wish him to know that there is, at least, a chance," Storm reminded her, "Perhaps we will get to the bottom of it all if he has some clue of what is happening."
"So what is happening?" The X-Man in question asked as he walked in.
"Do you remember what we told you about Xander?" Sage began. Logan nodded.
"Sure, mutant that lives over a Hellmouth," Logan recounted, still not believing that there was a Hellmouth in California, nor understanding how he knew what a Hellmouth was, "So?"
"One of his friends was found to be a New Mutant," Sage continued, "They also recently discovered she had a sister, and that she was not who she thought she was. Xander asked for our assistance in discovering the identity of the girl's parents. I have come up with two possibilities, but due to…circumstances, I can not be sure," Logan felt a chill rum up his spine. He had a real bad feeling where this was leading.
"Well?" He asked impatiently.
"One of the possibilities was Sabretooth…" Logan took in a sharp breath. Creed? A father? Who'd let that homicidal psychopath contribute to the gene pool? "The other possibility was yourself," Logan's jaw hit the ground.
"Are you sayin' I may or may not be a father?" He growled. Sage nodded, her face devoid of all emotion as usual, "And you were goin' ta tell me when?"
"When we were more sure," Ororo said, stepping into the conversation, "We did not want you doing something foolish because you felt responsible for two people who may or may not be your daughters."
"So what changed yer minds?" Logan asked gruffly. What was it with people he trusted keeping secrets like this?
"Buffy, Xander's friend," Sage explained, "She wanted you involved in case you could shed some light on the situation. It seems that Weapon X may have been involved in their birth and wishes to reacquire their…property," one of his hand's touched the back of the other, where his claws came out. His entire skeleton was comprised of adamantium, claws included, and it had happened in the labs of Weapon X.
"Whether these two are mine or not doesn't mean shit," Logan said, an angry light shining in his eyes, "No one deserves ta go through whatever those creeps have planned. Tell Xander ta get in touch with his friends. I'm in."
Sanctuary"I'm bored," Buffy explained, staring at the roof, "We can only try those simulations so many times before they become repetitive."
"Consider this all the holidays your owed from your Slayer gig," Shalimar suggested.
"Shalimar, this is not a holiday," Buffy told her, "Holiday's are fun. You get to go out on holidays. This is us being locked up because of my overprotective boyfriend. This is…Arrgh!" She got up and started pacing, "This is so boring!"
"This should make things interesting, then," Brannon said, walking in, "Angel just got back, with Wolverine," Buffy shot past him with out a word, "Who should I feel sorry for?" He asked as he and Shalimar followed her.
"Weapon X," Shalimar muttered.
"Angel!" Buffy screamed, running up to him.
"Oh crap," Angel muttered.
"What took you so long?" Buffy demanded, "I've been bored out of mind. I couldn't even think of anything to say to sparky."
"It was the quietest she's been since she got here," Brannon said as he and Shalimar walked in.
"Besides telling us how bored she was," Shalimar said dryly. Angel shrugged.
"Sorry. We ran into trouble," he explained. The man next to him, who had silently watched them til now, chuckled.
"Best bar fight I've ever been in, an' that's a few," he said. He looked at the other two feral's, "I presume this is Buffy and Shalimar."
"I'd suggest not making fun of the name," Brannon warned.
"Can it, sparky," Buffy snapped, looking over at the X-Man, "So you're Logan? Thought you'd be taller."
"Could say the same fer you," Logan said. Time for a quick test, "There is still a chance yer Sabretooth's, an' he's…" Logan didn't get a chance to finish as Buffy drove him into a wall.
"Buffy!" Angel shouted.
"Listen here, old man," Buffy hissed, her eyes flashing gold, "Listen real good. I am not now, nor am I ever going to be, related to that twisted bastard, and anyone who says different needs their heads read. Just remember, there's just as good a chance Shal and me should be calling you 'daddy', so loose the attitude," she let him go and began to walk out the door, "Oh and one more thing. As tests go, that one sucked. Way too obvious. You might want to work on that," and with that, she left, Angel following quickly. Logan chuckled.
"Girl's got brass," he said, "I'll give her that. Not many…"
"Give it rest," Brannon suddenly snapped.
"You got a problem, boy?" Logan growled. Brannon glared at him.
"'Bout a year ago, the only creatures she hunted were vampires," Brannon said softly, "She thought she was a Vampire Slayer, under the control of a Council that couldn't give a shit whether she lived or die, who used tests of their own to see if she was 'worthy'. She's had quite possibly the worst life I know of, and now she's got these Weapon X slime balls after her and Shalimar. Now, get off this 'test' trip. If you want to help, help. If not, piss off," Logan stared at the boy, then to Shalimar, who nodded.
"Flamin' hell," he muttered, "How long…"
"'Bout five years," Shalimar said, "Didn't even know she existed til last year," Logan shook his head, re-evaluating what he thought he knew about the girl from both Xander and Angel's description.
"I think that flamin' asshole at Weapon X needs his flamin' head read," Logan muttered, "I'll have to remind him of that fact at a later date."
"I'll help," Shalimar said. Logan looked over at her. Were these two his daughters? He didn't know, but he didn't care. They needed his help now, and he wasn't going to bail on them. Not now.
"I can not believe the nerve of that…"
"Easy Buffy," Angel said, running up behind here, "It's just the way he is. Like the bar fight," Buffy turned and looked at her beloved.
"What exactly is the deal with that?"
"We met in the Princess Bar in Madripoor, as agreed," Angel said, "What wasn't mentioned, and I am taking this up with Xander, is that it was one of Logan's old haunts."
"And?" Buffy asked.
"Some old 'friends' of his, a group of ninjas called 'the Hand' decided to drop in," Angel explained.
"Any reason?" Buffy asked. Angel shrugged.
"I talked to a couple of the patrons before we left," he said, "Where Wolverine's concerned, the Hand needs neither contract or reason. He seriously pissed them off somewhere, and they take every opportunity to take him out."
"And I thought I pissed people off easily," Buffy whispered.
"I've seen a lot of fights," Angel continued, "Caused a few of them. I've never seen anyone fight like that. Angelus would have been hard pressed to beat him."
"He's that strong?" Buffy asked. Angel shook his head.
"He's that wild," he said, "I don't know how in control he was during the fight, but he went through those guys Giles through jam donuts," Buffy thought on that moment.
"How bad was it?"
"Those that didn't get away were either too injured to move, or they weren't moving, period," Angel told her.
"I really don't like the sound of this," Buffy muttered.
"Where the Hands concerned, it's them or you, darlin'" Logan's rough voice echoed down the corridor, "Thought ya might want yer boyfriend back in one piece," Buffy turned to face him.
"Angel's a big boy," she said evenly. Logan chuckled.
"No foolin'," he said, "Not many people that can out move a Hand ninja. I was impressed," he looked down at the short Slayer- cum- feral, "'Course, got me wondering if yer as good as he is," Buffy grinned up at him.
"That a challenge, old man?" She asked, her eyes flashing the golden cats eyes. Angel backed up a couple of steps, grinning all the way. This would be interesting.
"If yer up to it, darlin'," the man know as Wolverine answered, a matching grin adorning his own face, "'Course, if ya aren't sure…" he didn't get a chance to finish as Buffy's fist smashed into his gut. Logan doubled over, long enough for her foot to smash into the top of his head, sending him to the ground.
He looked up to see Buffy smiling at him, "I studied," she said. Logan grinned back.
"So I noticed," he said, coming to his feet quickly. He struck out with his fist, which Buffy dodged easily, then bringing his knee up, which grazed her side. Buffy answered with a roundhouse that bounced off his adamantium laced skull.
"Ow," she complained, "Your skulls thicker than it looks. 'Course, not a total surprise," Logan grinned, dodging her next hook.
"You talk to much," he grunted as her knee found his gut.
"Yeah, I've heard that," Buffy said, propelling herself off a wall and into his legs, bringing him down, "'Course, the ones that complain about that are usually dust before they can appreciate my humour."
"Yer worse than that flamin' web head," he muttered. Buffy thought a moment.
"We met a Praying Mantis Lady once. Does that count?" Logan grinned.
"Close enough," he said, standing straight. He bowed respectfully you, "Not bad, darlin'," Buffy obliged with a bow of her own.
"You weren't so bad yourself old man," she quipped, "Though you lead in with your head a bit."
"You drop yer shoulder," he retorted. Angel shook his head.
"Everyone tells her that," he said, walking up beside her.
"Hey, I don't have too many problems," she muttered darkly.
"Does this include what happened with the Master?" Angel said teasingly.
"Whose side are you on?"
"Are you sure about this?" Sabretooth growled at Cane.
"Came for the Director himself," the cyborg said, "They're his," Sabretooth licked his lips.
"Well, well," he muttered, "Things just got interesting."
"I don't like this," Buffy muttered.
"You an' me both, darlin'," Logan muttered as the jet sped towards they're destination, "Somethin' stinks ta high heaven," one of Adam's people had rung in a sighting on Sabretooth somewhere in LA. There were no New Mutants in that area, but Homo Superior numbers were in the hundreds.
"You're the one that said he might be recruiting," Brannon said.
"But no one else's picked up on it," Logan said, "Chuck would've sent a team by now if it was real. Storm would have called, Interpol, there are agencies and capes all over the world that are lookin' for this freak, an' I know some of 'em. None of 'em are bitin'."
"Maybe they don't have the resources," Emma added. Logan looked at the telempath.
"You wanna go tell the head of S.H.E.I.L.D he don't have the resources to track one mutant, be my guest," he said.
"Oh."
"We have to check it out," Shalimar said, "It's the reason Buffy and me came along. We need answers and, like it or not, he may have them. We'll just have to be careful," Logan made a noise.
"Careful. Right," he muttered, "The amount a' firepower Weapon X can bring to bare, 'careful' is the very least of what you should be."
"Give us an overview," Buffy said. Logan took a breath.
"Sabretooth an' Wild Child, you know about," he began, "Basically the same powers; enhanced senses, healing, claws. Sabretooth has the skeleton like yours truly, laced with Adamantium. Wild Child's physical mutation went a bit further, really doesn't look good."
"The gremlin I knocked out on our first meeting," Buffy muttered. Logan nodded.
"Heard about that," he said, "They'll want some pay back. But they're the least. There's at least one other I know of they may have on board, an amputee with bionic limb implants that can become any weapon he needs called Cane."
"That names popular," Buffy muttered, thinking of her friend, a Shao Lin monk called Kwai Chang Cane, "These are the only ones you know of?"
"A couple of mutants've disappeared off of Charlie's scopes," Logan said, "Some that may join up with these guys for kicks, or power boosts, but these are the definite."
"Suggestions?" Shalimar asked. Logan thought a moment.
"Sparky may be able to handle Cane if aims for his bionics," he said after awhile, "Buffy's shown she can handle Wild Child well enough. We'll need some reserves, in case they have extra's."
"What about Sabretooth?" Jesse asked. Logan looked at him.
"I got a score ta settle with that freak," he said, "He's all mine."
"They're here," Cane said as the jet containing their targets landed.
"About time," Marrow complained, "I'm getting bored."
"Looks like they've got the whole gang," Cane informed them, "There are the targets…what the hell?"
"What is it, tin man?" Sabretooth demanded.
"Wolverine's with them," Cane said, "The hell's he doing here?"
"Looks like they hooked up somewhere," Sabretooth said, licking his lips. This was going to be fun.
"Let's just get this over with," Wild Child complained, "I got a score to settle with the blonde bitch."
"Hold on," Marrow snapped, "We weren't told about him. They may have other connections with the X-Men."
"Feeling home sick?" Sabretooth sneered.
"Can it, old man!" Marrow said, turning to him, "We were told to stay under the general radar. Taking on Logan is not my idea of staying under the radar."
"Screw that," Wild Child said as he moved off, "That bitch's mine."
"I'm with ugly on this one," Sabretooth said, grin still in place as he followed the other mutant.
"Idiots," Marrow muttered.
"Forget about them," Cane said, "Just get ready. We'll try and separate the targets from the others. If we can grab Wolverine as well, it's a bonus."
"Yeah," Marrow said, bringing to bone blades from beneath her skin. She thought back on her days with the X-Men, on how Logan tried to take her under his wing…
No, she thought. I can't think like that. I'm not that person anymore. I have a job to do, and I'm doing it.
"We got company," Buffy muttered.
"The least those guys could do is get down wind," Angel said, "When's the last time they took a bath?"
"Who've we got, Logan?" Shalimar asked.
"Sabretooth and Wild Child," Wolverine said, sniffing the air, "Cane and… What the hell!?"
"Something wrong?" Emma asked.
"Geez, bones," Logan muttered, "How'd you get mixed up with these guys?"
"Bones?" Brannon asked.
"A Morlock," Logan said, "Name o' Marrow. Hung with the X-Men for a while, then disappeared. I haven't heard anything from her in ages. Now I know why."
"Powers?" Jesse asked.
"Her bones," Logan said, "She can pull 'em out, use 'em as blades. Any kind."
"I'll hold her," Jesse said, "She can't slice through me."
"Shal, back him up," Buffy said, "Use non lethal force on her, guys. She may be controlled."
"Here comes the ugly squad," Emma quipped as Wild Child and Sabretooh came towards them.
"We're on, blondie," Wolverine said, his claws sliding into position, "Ya ready?"
"I was born ready, old man," she said with a grin, moving behind him, "I just hope you can keep up."
"Be careful," Angel whispered as they moved off.
"They will be," Brannon said, "And I'll help you kill Logan if she doesn't come back in one piece. C'mon, let's go keep the Tin Man company."
"Hello, blondie," Wild Child said as the girl moved closer.
"What's with everyone calling me that?" Buffy asked.
"If the shoe fits…" Wild Child began. He didn't get a chance to finish as Buffy's fist slammed into his jaw.
"It's nice to fight a guy whose bones I can break," she quipped as he fell, "I don't feel a fight's over until I've at least cracked guys rib, y'know?"
"You're going to pay for that!" Wild Child roared, leaping at her. Buffy dodged easily to one side, spinning to face him as she did. She crouched low as he spun to face him.
"Come on, ugly," Buffy said, her eyes revealing the cats eyes momentarily, "Let's play."
Sabretooth chuckled as Buffy and Wild Child began round two, "She's got spirit, I'll give 'er that."
"An' its stayin' that way," Wolverines said, getting ready.
"Haven't we danced this dance before, runt?"
"This time, you aren't walking away," Sabretooth grinned.
"Heard it all before. Let's just get this done."
"The only thing we'll ever agree on, bub," Wolverine snarled as the two arch-nemeses charged each other.
"Damn," Cane muttered, "Wild Child's already engaged one of the targets."
"So we'll grab her after we grab her sister and get out of here before Wolverine notices," Marrow said.
"Anyone would think you were afraid of him."
"Terrified," Marrow muttered, "He won't think too much of traitor, and I'd prefer to stay alive long enough to get out on a real date."
"Well then, get ready," Cane said, popping a gun out of his arm, "'Cause here we go," he fired, hitting the ground just to the left of the target, hoping to stun her.
"Shalimar, MOVE!" Emma screamed as she sensed the aggression of one of the hidden assailants.
Shalimar leapt to one side just as the ground left of where she had stood exploded.
"These guys are playing for keeps," Angel growled, his eyes flashing yellow, "Our turn," he moved forwards as Brannon released a stream of electricity from his hands, forcing the shooter behind cover. At the same time, Jesse and Shalimar moved off to the right. Emma kept an eye on the emotions of the two assailants. One was completely confident in his abilities, while the other was shaken by something, what she didn't know. However, an image of an angry Wolverine kept invading her thoughts.
"Looks like Logan's got someone's attention," she muttered, using her powers to solidify that image, and the fear behind it, into the subjects mind, "Sorry, but no one takes pot-shots at my friends."
"EEYAAH!" Marrow screamed, curling into a ball.
"What the hell…?" Cane muttered.
"Keep him away," she whispered, "Keep him away!"
"A telepath," the cyborg muttered.
"Telempath, actually," a voice said. Cane looked up, "Guess your partner couldn't keep her emotions covered. You're on your own."
"Like that's ever been a problem," Cane muttered, bringing his gun up. The man leapt towards him before he could fire, throwing him through the wall.
"You've obviously never faced me before then," the guy said, "'Course, I think I'd remember facing a cyborg."
"Good work, Angel," Cane spun to face on of his targets, "Looks like we have one."
"Don't count you chickens before they're hatched girl," Cane said, firing on gun hidden in his upper arm. The shot sliced through the girls shoulder before she could react.
And that's when it all went to hell.
The first thing Buffy felt was a pain that went tearing through her shoulder, but there was no wound. She knew the pain came from Shalimar, but couldn't understand it.
She looked over to see her sister fall, blood seeping from a bullet wound. Her eyes turned to slits as she focused on her sister's heartbeat. It was slowing, but still strong.
"Looks like your sister's down for the count," Wild Child laughed, "But don't worry, you'll be joining her soon in the Weapon X labs. The Boss has some plans for you two," Buffy glared at the little troll and something inside her snapped.
She dropped into a crouch, growling at him. Her eyes turned into the familiar cats eyes, only this time they didn't fade away.
"Well, this is interesting," Wild Child muttered, then got really worried when she started scratching her hands, "Time to finish this."
Buffy leapt over him, throwing her fists into the back of his skull. Wild Child hit the ground hard, but was quickly to his feet. Buffy, however, was already moving towards Shalimar.
"Where're you goin', girl?" Wild Child growled, grabbing her jacket and jerking her back.
Buffy snarled as she hit the floor. This creature dared to keep her from her sister, dared to stop her from aiding her pack?
She got to her feet, the itching sensation in her hands now a sharp, piercing pain. She charged forward, slamming into Wild Child, this time he was ready, falling back and throwing her over him.
"You like that?" He said as she landed. Buffy was on her feet in an instant and was throwing herself forward with a roar. This time, however, Wild Child was too shocked to move.
For, as she charged, the red skin she had been scratching bulged, then tore, releasing six very sharp, very familiar, bone claws.
"What the…?" Wild Child's stunned cry was cut off as Buffy's new claws tore through his gut, dropping him like a ton of bricks.
All combat ceased as she let out a blood-curdling scream.
"My God…" Logan muttered as she moved over to Shalimar. The girl reached down carefully, checking on her. Then her attention turned to Cane.
"You," she hissed, her gold eyes glaring at him, "You did this," the cyborg brought his guns up.
"Don't move, or you'll follow her," he warned. Buffy stepped over Shalimar, her glare never leaving his face. Cane fired, the bullet hitting the same place as he had with Shalimar.
It healed almost instantly.
"What are you?" He asked. Buffy gave a predatory grin.
"Death," she hissed, "Death to all who endanger my pack."
"What's going on?" Angel asked. He'd never seen her like this. And those claws…
"Looks like its 'like father, like daughter'," Sabretooth chuckled. Logan turned to him.
"Thanks for confirmin' that, bub," Logan said, slamming his fist into Sabretooth's jaw. The mutant dropped like a ton of bricks, "Asshole," he muttered, then moved over to the girls he now knew, without a shadow of a doubt, to be his daughters. He first checked Shalimar, then turned his attention to Buffy. The girl was now within arms length of Cane, and ready to rip what organic parts remained on the cyborg.
"You will pay," she growled.
"Hold on, darlin'," Logan said, moving up next to her.
"Finally, the voice of reason," Cane said. Logan gave him a cold, deadly grin.
"This is a family debt," he said. Cane's eyes went wide, "As yer father, I'm obligated to take this son of a bitch out."
"She is my sister," Buffy hissed. Her newly awakened instincts confirmed he was her father, "I must avenge her."
"You want ta face me fer alpha, girl?" Logan knew what was happening. The animalistic rage he kept under control had exploded in her, merging with feral instincts to from a part animal, part human personality. Until she got it under control, he had to treat her as such.
"No," Buffy said hesitantly.
"Then step aside," Buffy nodded submissively, stepping back to Shalimar.
"What was that?" Brannon asked.
"Some kind of animal instinct," Jesse said, looking over at Angel.
"Not a usual feral thing," Angel said, moving beside Buffy, "She's her father's daughter, I'm guessing."
"Most interesting," a voice said in all their minds, "She has inherited Logan's animal rage as well as his claws and healing. It seems to have merged with her own mind and innate feral instincts," they all turned to face a floating, transparent man.
"Who are you?" Angel demanded. Buffy looked at the image curiously, half understanding what he was saying. If she did this…
"I'm Charles Xavier," the image 'said', "I'm a friend of Logan's."
"Nice ta see ya, Chuck, but I'm busy," he glared over at Cane, "'Less tin man wants ta turn himself in," Cane answered by aiming a gun at Buffy.
"What's faster, Logan?" He asked, "You, or my brain? Want to test the theory…" he doubled over in pain suddenly.
"Not necessary," Emma said, walking over to them. Marrow was leaning heavily on her arms, "I convinced her to behave herself. Freed me up for that."
"I'm sorry," Marrow whispered, "They made me an offer, made me normal looking. I had to…"
"Not yer fault, darlin'," Logan said.
"Shit," Buffy whispered, suddenly sagging into Angel's arms, "That was hard. Thanks for the tip, prof."
"It will get easier," Xavier assured her, "When I first met Logan… well, let's just say he was like that nearly all the time. If you wish to come to my school…"
"No offense, cue ball, but I stay with my sister. And that means I stay with Mutant X," Buffy said, kneeling next to Shalimar. The bullet wound was half way healed, "Looks like I'm not the only one with dad's healing. At least she didn't nearly kill someone to unlock it," Wild Child let out a moan, assuring everyone he was still alive. Just trying to tuck his guts back in his body.
"If you change you're mind, there is a place for you," Xavier said, "Please, though. Refrain from calling me 'cue ball'," Buffy grinned.
"Whatever you say, Chuck," she said, in a rather haunting similarity to her father.
"Now that's just freaky," Shalimar murmured weakly, "Never do that again, 'kay sis?"
"You okay?" Buffy asked. Shalimar sat up.
"I will be soon as you tell me I heard right," Shalimar said.
"'Fraid so, darlin'," Logan said, "Hairy confirmed it."
"And my dive into pre-historic me confirmed it too," Buffy said, "My animal persona only answered to dad up there."
"Guess that means a trip to Sunnydale," Shalimar said, "Joyce'll want to meet him."
"Joyce?" Logan asked.
"Mom," Buffy said, "Well, in the sense that she raised me. Not too sure about biological mom. Still looking," she gazed up at her father hopefully.
"I didn't even know you two existed," he said, "I have no idea who yer mother might be."
"At least now we're sure we were conceived in Weapon X," Buffy said, "So, we ask our resident hacker to check it out when we get back to Sunny D."
"Resident hacker?" Logan asked. Shalimar grinned.
"If Red can't find it on the Net, it doesn't exist."
"Maybe we should introduce her ta Shadowcat," Logan said, "Sounds like they'd get along well."
"If she can hack Langley, she's got a friend for life," Buffy said.
So, waddaya think? Like the claws? Shou Shal get some? What do people think of a good Dru (oh wait. That's next chapter)?
Stay tuned.
Doc.