Disclaimer: A whole host of new characters are mine. Please don't use them. Of course, the X-Men and other such characters involved in the comic, books and the movie belong to Marvel, and new ones are mine. Also the plot is my own.
Throughout story:
" " = Speech
' ' = Thoughts
^ ^ = Telepath
On a note about Aurora's magically disappearing and reappearing clothes (again) I'm come to the conclusion that Aurora needs to concentrate in order to remove body wear and accessories. She was in such a rage (animalistic, woo!) that she forgot about it.
Jenny: Glad you're looking forward to it XD
Blix: Yup yup. :D
My reviewers have vanished.. only you two guys reviewed! LoneEagle? Ironic? Anyone? Where are you guys? :(
Scott: Hey, I didn't do much in the last chapter!
Logan: You're not important.
Sketty: *elbows Logan* Scott! You're.. er.. You weren't needed in that particular chapter.
Scott: Next chapter then?
Sketty: No.. I'm sorry, this is going to be about Logan and Aurora.
Logan and Aurora: Woohoo!
Scott: *jaw drops* Am I not important?!
Logan: No.
Aurora: Logan..
Scott: What happened to my leader status?!
Logan: It deteriorated.
Scott: *looks appalled* Am I not loved by the readers?!
Logan: No.
Sketty: Logan..
Logan: It's true, I've read the reviews!
Sketty: How?!
Logan: *grin* …
Sketty: Scott.. I er.. I.. Let's just get on with this chapter.
Logan: I, on the other hand, is loved. It's all about me!! YEAH!
All: …
Chapter 48Both Logan and Aurora sharply ran across the wet streets, their feet pounding through puddles as they headed towards the direction Siren had indicated. The closer they got, the more Aurora could feel the air becoming cloggier, and her breaths were shortening. She tried to inhale; but the air didn't justify her need for oxygen. She tried to deeply force the clammy air inside her. It wasn't enough. She felt her run stumble slightly as the lack of pure air forced her head to swim. She blinked gently, trying to clear her vision. The area was becoming foggy. She staggered to a halt, seeing a blurred figure of Logan turning to her curiously. The virus battled against her healing gene, the mutation acting as a barrier for the sickness. But even with her healing forcing the deadliest attack away, a few lethal particles of air managed to creep inside her veins and began to run through her blood.
She could see the dull figure in front of her coming closer. She placed a shaky hand on the clammy wall of stone beside her. She doubled over, wheezing softly as though she had just run past her limit. Her gold hand clutched as her chest as she felt her throat tighten. She took sharp and badly done breaths, the polluted air dragging her down to weakness.
She could hear her name being called as she softly gasped, drowning in the poison of the air. Logan's words were merely a rush in her ears, for a mad frenzy of sound attacked her senses, and mixed to create a terrifying drone of anger inside her head. She felt fingertips touch at her cheek, she dismissed their presence. She made a grab for a sturdy arm, trying to stop herself from falling. She heard her name being cried by the male in front of her. She turned her head upwards to stare at the blurred figure. She blinked slowly, her grip tightening on the tender arm that now moved round her. She could still hear the distant voice that lured her warmly back to reality. Her breaths lengthened, her panic for air lessened as each gulp of air was hungrily taken as it became more and more satisfying and filling for her lungs.
A few more blinks and her eyes refocused. The roaring hum of the headache faded and her sight was cleared from the self-created dense fog. The touch against her skin became more apparent. She straightened from the wall, now looking around slowly. She began to establish that she was being held upright, and the sensation of touch at a cheek was a hand. Logan's hand. Her eyes ultimately lifted and settled upon the gaze of Logan, who was watching her with worry.
"Aurora?" She heard his utter, "Are you alright? It's the virus isn't it?"
She managed a feeble nod, "Yes.." She stood by her own accord now, nodding again.
Logan let his arms slip off her, palms cautiously outstretching in case she was unstable. Aurora capably stood upright, a grateful smile resting on her lips. She took another steady breath, just checking everything was all right.
Logan tilted his head gently, "Do you want to stay here?" He asked with a gruff tone, though his voice was still comforting.
Aurora shook her head, proceeding forward a few steps, "No.. I've got to come with you. We're going to do this together."
Logan's hand outstretched and he rested it gently upon her left shoulder, "If you're sure." He said softly, a faint smile lifting his cheeks as he watched her with pride at her determination. It was apparent where he got his stamina from, "Together then.." He said gently in reply to her nod.
Aurora's slim unaffected hand lifted to where's his sat, and she gave a gentle squeeze on his chunky fingers, "Good."
Logan's smile broadened as he watched her, bathing in the warmth that always enlighted and lifted him whenever she looked at him. He glanced to where her fingers sat on his. Another pleasant rush satisfying his usual grief and hunger of his memory.
They stood like that for a short time, a good number of seconds. Just in silence, watching one another and contemplating over the other.
It was Logan who backed down, "We ought to hurry." He said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Aurora blinked gently, nodding in agreement, "Yes.." He was right.. this wasn't the time nor the place.
Another second of meaningful and long gazes before Aurora allowed her hand to slip off his.. And Logan's fell back to his side.
"Let's go." Announced the Wolverine; turning from Aurora to start running back down the pavement again. Aurora hurried loyally by his side, both heading to where a terrorizing building sat behind the houses.
The compound.
It was beyond the midnight hour now, and the sky was gloomy with the deepest shade of the night. Only a few stars managed to make themselves known, and the moon crescent had since been hidden by a volatile stretch of grey cloud that was drifting in from the west. A square area was dramatically barricaded off from the outside world by extremely high walls and dangerous looking wire running across the top. A sign proclaimed their high voltage input.
The darkness of the night was incredible. Not even the streetlamps were good enough. But Logan and Aurora were at their best, and their stealth meant that the silence of the night was uninterrupted. A casual sniff at the air unveiled the many secrets that the night offered to them. The compound they wished to enter was heavily guarded. Hundre's of humans could be smelt. Old blood lingered around the air like an aura to the compound, where past attempts had tried to gain entry. The burnt smell of readied weapons mixed in with the aroma, including the vile stench of the virus that could be seen drifting into the air from a tall funnel shaped tower.
There was no doubt, that this was going life threatening.
Logan and Aurora exchanged a meaningful glance. Not even a thousand words could have expressed what the mere glance did. They knew of the peril and dangerous behind the thick doors that was the only entrance into the ten foot walled compound.
Luck. They needed luck.
Aurora glanced to Logan and said in such a quiet voice, you'd have thought she was merely mouthing the words, "We can easily get in undetected, and then try and find this storage of the virus.. but how do we get out? The alarm will have been raised by then."
Logan heard her, and he too responded softly, "By then, the other mutants can get in.. They'll help us. " Noting Aurora's apprehension, he gently nudged the soft skin of her hand, "We can do this."
Aurora gave a small smile, "I hope so.." She stared out of the shadow of the wall and to the near doors of a shiny substance, "We need to get through that.."
Logan turned his head to look at their only entrance, "Well.." He looked back to her when his ears caught the familiar rustle, and when his eyes returned he met the sight of a beautiful eagle, one leg cast in gold. She made a gentle noise of reassurance before she lifted and flew gently over the terrorizing mountainous wall. Logan watched the doors in silence. Nothing happened. He moved over quietly. Travelling through the blackness of the night like a shadow. He paused in front of the tall doors of metal. He raised a brow and outstretched his fist. Three claws erupted grandly and glistened in the poor light. As Aurora was taking her time he thrust his fist forward, trying to stab through the door and create a hole big enough for him to pass through. But as his claws contacted the door..
The pain was agonizing.
As the blades came in contact with the door.. they made no insertion. The impact upon the metal doors shuddered his entire fist, his claws vibrating and sending shockwaves of pain rebounding through his skeleton of adamantium. He staggered back with a cry of pain, his eyes fiercely closing as he waited for the shudder of pain to subdue. Only when it did, did he lift his eyes and glare at the metal slab of a doorway. No claw marks touched the surface. It just gleamed and jeered nastily with it's shining strength.
Logan gave a swallow into his dry throat as he watched the doors then slowly part. It was adamantium.
Only Stryker can manufacture adamantium.
Stryker is dead.
Logan closed his eyes as he winced at the thoughts; he walked through the doorway gently. He looked up to see Aurora now in human form waiting for him by a small sheltered control panel which was now fizzing gently, claw marks destroyed it.. The compound yard was unbelievably clear. The stretch of dirt went for miles, only stopping by small buildings that surrounded the main square block of the towering building in the middle. Around, army vans were stood parked. All military equipment could be seen, all kinds. All designed to keep other out and alert them of trespassers.
Logan and Aurora travelled with cautious silence through the darkness, their perfect stealth meaning that the moving camera above the entrance did not zoom to them.. it just watched the blackness.
The doorway to the mountainous building was awaiting in the distance. That was their destination.
As Logan walked he thought back over the adamantium doors.. and the military equipment.. the whole layout was very familiar.
Stryker is dead.
This is Britain.
The work of the dead General still lived on..
***
Tension! God.. I'm only writing it and I have adrenalin going haywire in my bloodstream. Woo! What a rush! :D
Logan: She's weird..
Scott: I know.
Sketty: *pouts*