Disclaimer: I do not own any of the X-Men movie characters.
Title: Unforgivable Sinners
By: Cmdr. Gabe E.
Note: This fanfiction occurs entirely in the X-Men movie-verse . Characters' unspoken thoughts are enclosed in .
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Here's a long one for you guys !!! Thanks again for all the reviews o --- and don't worry....the rest of the X-Men will be in the next chapter ! As for now, I hope you all enjoy this one o!
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CHAPTER 25: Caught in the middle
She looked over Logan's shoulder and saw Stryker leaning against the wall. He looked like he was still recovering from the beatings he had received earlier. She could see him staring back at her, but there was something different in his eyes. It was as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't. What did he want to say? What did he want from her now?
Yuriko averted her eyes from his stare and pressed her cheek against Logan's chest. She couldn't ignore the confusion that lingered in her mind. She knew she should move on and bury the life she had as Lady Deathstrike, but would she really be able to forgive Stryker for everything he had done? Did she have to give him another chance?
Logan gently unwrapped his arms from her body and stared into her eyes. A soft smile appeared on Yuriko's lips as she saw the calmness in Logan's face. Stryker was wrong when he called Logan an animal. Logan was as human as any human could be, and even more.
"I believe now is a good time to talk with the professor." He said.
Logan saw the smile on Yuriko's face and knew that she had forgiven him for what he had done. He didn't want her to think that fighting was the only thing that mattered to him. When they first met, they met as enemies. They fought each other, hurt each other, and he killed her. He saw her die. But now he was grateful that she survived.
"I'll meet you downstairs in front of the elevator." He added. His eyes looked at Stryker. He still despised the sight of him. "Charles wants to talk with him too, so I suggest you go tell your friend to fix himself up."
He gently placed a hand on Yuriko's shoulder and smiled as his eyes looked into hers. "I'll see you soon". He turned around and walked down the hall.
Yuriko's eyes focused on Logan until he turned around a corner and disappeared from her sight. She couldn't wait to see him again. She liked how he looked into her eyes. She also couldn't wait to meet with the professor soon. She wanted to thank the man who had unconditionally accepted her into his family.
She turned around and looked at Stryker. His back was still against the wall. She could see his chest moving up and down as he breathed through his lips.
"Are you all right?" She asked. There was a hint of concern in her voice.
Stryker winced in pain as he pushed himself off the wall. He could still feel his entire body aching. He rubbed the back of his neck and groaned. He really thought he was going to die in Logan's hands. He could still remember how he hit the wall hard when he was flung out of the room. And he saw nothing but Logan's fist as he hit him again and again and again. If it weren't for Yuriko, he would probably be dead by now.
"I'm fine." He said firmly as he looked at her.
He straightened his suit and smoothed his tie. His body wanted to lie down and rest, but he didn't want Yuriko to think of him as a weak, pathetic, old man who could barely keep himself on his feet. He knew he was powerless compared to the likes of them, but he still wanted respect. He wanted to keep his dignity intact.
"It was my fault. I apologize." She said, looking at him.
Stryker noticed the warmth in her eyes. He wasn't sure why Yuriko was apologizing, but he liked the way she was looking at him now. It was his first time to see Yuriko look at him without a hint of contempt, or hatred. The anger in her eyes was gone. And the tone of her voice was mellow, as if she was truly concerned. Was he finally starting to reach the woman behind the claws?
Yuriko quickly looked away from Stryker. Her eyes focused on the far end of the hall where Logan had disappeared into.
"You heard what Logan said. We're going to meet with the professor soon." She said firmly. She looked at him again. "You should thank him for letting you stay here. If I was the professor, I wouldn't even know if I could stomach your presence in this mansion."
Stryker's eyes wandered to the floor. "Was the professor...one of the people I hurt when I --- I..." Every time he thought of his past, he just wanted to run away. His previous self seemed like a man cared for no one but himself. He knew he did terrible things...Things that could never be changed. How could he have lived that way for so long?
"You almost killed him, William." Her eyes looked at him. She wanted to see his reaction. She wanted to see how he would react towards the things he himself had done.
Yuriko's words hit him hard. He knew she was staring at him, but he couldn't find the guts to look back. He almost killed the man who had just allowed him to stay in the mansion, the only man who could possibly understand him. His past self now seemed like the exact opposite of the professor. While the professor was a good, kind man who cared for everyone, he, William Stryker, was the man who wanted everyone destroyed.
He slowly moved his eyes to meet hers. "Then...I shall ask for his forgiveness...and hope that he will find me worth forgiving."
"The professor is a kind man. Unlike me, he'll forgive you." She said coldly.
She knew Stryker wanted to change. His previous life haunted him like a nightmare as hers did to her. She didn't want to admit it, but in a way, they were both the same. They both wanted to escape from the past that refused to go away.
She looked away from Stryker and started to walk down the hall towards the elevator. She suddenly felt him reach out for her hand, and as soon as his skin touched hers, she saw another vision.
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She saw herself....In a house. She seemed to be in a living room. She had a suitcase in one hand and she was quickly walking away from someone. She was walking away from --- a man --- Stryker. He was following her. Like in her previous vision, he was also in the same age as her. He looked so young that she almost didn't recognize him.
She saw him grab her wrist, which stopped her from moving in further. She turned around to look at him and then they both started arguing. She couldn't hear anything, but she could see their lips moving so fast. They both looked so angry and so sad at the same time. She could almost see herself on the verge of crying.
The Yuriko in her vision suddenly pulled her hand away from Stryker's grip. He tried to wrap his arms around her, but she screamed and pushed him away. She could see tears running down her cheeks as she turned around and walked away from him.
She saw herself walk out of the front door and into the pouring rain. That was the last she saw of her in that vision. The next thing she saw was Stryker standing in the living room. He looked so angry as his eyes stared at the front door where she exited. She saw him clench his fists, then he followed after her.
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Yuriko's eyes opened wide when she felt Stryker's hand holding hers. She could feel her heart beating so fast as vague images of the vision still lingered in her mind. She turned around and looked at him. Who was William Stryker before she became Lady Deathstrike? Why did she keep on seeing him in her mind?
"Thank you." He said as he gently held her hand. "...For saving my life."
She slowly pulled her hand from him and stepped away. "Don't thank me just yet." She said coldly.
She didn't want to be too close to him right now. She didn't even want to feel his touch in any way. She could still remember the way he wrapped his arms around her in the vision. There was something about it that scared her. It was as if he didn't want to let her go. And the anger in Stryker's face at the end of it scared her even more.
She knew something happened after Stryker went after her. She knew something terrible happened after that. She could feel it in her gut. If only she could remember.
Yuriko turned away from him and walked down the hall towards the elevator. Stryker sighed and followed after her. He knew they were going to be with that Logan again, and he hated the thought of it. He didn't like it whenever that man was around. He hated the way Yuriko looked at Logan. He didn't know why, but he hated it.
The two of them took the elevator to the first floor and met up with Logan on the main entrance of the mansion.
"Yuriko." He said with a smile on his face. He was definitely glad to see her again. Seeing her made him forget about the pain of Jean's death. Perhaps someday, she would make him forget about Jean herself.
His eyes narrowed as he saw Stryker following after her. He still couldn't understand why the professor let him stay in the mansion.
"I do hope you briefed him about the meeting with the professor." He said firmly.
"Don't worry, Logan. I did." She said as she looked back at him. She knew he was glad to see her again too. She couldn't understand it, but whenever they were together, they felt like two parts of one whole.
Logan looked at Stryker and glared at him. "Because if he pulls another one of his stunts, I'll make him experience hell on earth and guarantee that he stays there until he dies."
Stryker arched an eyebrow and looked back at Logan. "Hell on earth? I'm sorry to spoil your fun, my friend, but I've apparently been there before. It seems that even hell doesn't want me in it. And I doubt that it wants me back." He said with a mocking tone in his voice.
Logan suddenly unleashed his claws and marched towards his nemesis. His eyes flared with anger as he gritted his teeth. He'd had enough of that man's pride. How dare he mock him after what just happened between them?
Stryker saw Logan heading towards him and stared back into his eyes. If he had to fight Logan, then he would. He'd had enough of Yuriko doing all the fighting for him. He didn't want to rely on her anymore. If Logan was going to kill him, then he wasn't going to go down without a fight. He clenched his fist and headed straight towards Logan.
Yuriko suddenly had a panicked look on her face as she saw the two men heading towards each other. Both of them looked eager to fight. She had to do something before another battle ensued before her. She'd had enough of their mindless, childish skirmishes.
She quickly ran between Logan and Stryker and pushed them apart before either of them could lay a finger on one another. She could feel them struggling as she kept them away from each other's fists, or in Stryker's case, Logan's claws.
"Let me go, Yuriko!" Logan shouted. His eyes were focused on Stryker.
"This is a fight between two men. Step aside and let us finish this." Stryker said as he angrily stared at Logan.
"ENOUGH!!! I've had enough of you two!!!" She shouted angrily. The sound of her voice echoed in the main entrance.
The two men calmed down, but she could still feel the tension in the air.
Yuriko looked at Stryker with her hand still on his chest. "You! You don't stand a chance against Logan. If I let you go, you'll find your body scattered all over the floor even before you could touch him." She said imposingly.
Then she turned her head towards Logan. "And you, Logan, please. Don't let him get to you." She said with a begging tone in her voice.
"Just tell him to keep his mouth shut next time." Logan said firmly.
Stryker's eyes glared at Logan. "I'll only keep my mouth shut after I've buried my fist in your face." He said.
"William!" She shouted at him.
Logan stepped away from Yuriko and retracted his claws. He looked at Stryker and arched an eyebrow. "Fine. If punching me is the only way for him to keep his big mouth shut, then let him do it." A sly smile curled up the corner of his lips.
"What!?" Yuriko asked with a curious look on her face.
He looked at Yuriko and smiled. "And for you, Yuriko, I won't even fight back."
"Logan, what do you think you're doing?" She asked. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him.
Stryker pulled away from Yuriko and straightened his suit. He walked in front of Logan and stared into his eyes.
"He probably thinks I can't punch hard enough." Stryker said. His jaw tightened as he looked at the man who had challenged him. "I'm warning you, my friend. I may not have your flashy claws, but I still got what it takes to take down a fully grown man."
Stryker's arrogance almost made him laugh. "Well I'm a fully grown man. Let's see if you can take me down." Logan said in a rather cocky way.
Stryker looked at Yuriko. "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to your friend, Yuriko. As you can see, he was the one who brought this upon himself."
He clenched his fist and pulled it back. He wanted to take down Logan in one punch. He gritted his teeth and sent a swift, hard punch on Logan's cheek. The force of Stryker's fist looked fast and hard enough to break through a wooden wall.
The room was filled with silence, as the two men remained standing. Stryker was expecting Logan to fall any time soon, but he just stood there unmoving. He didn't even flinch when Stryker's fist hit his face.
"Looks like you were wrong after all." He said.
Stryker quickly pulled his fist away from Logan and cried out in agony. The sound of his scream echoed in the main entrance of the mansion. He cradled his fist on his chest and continued to groan in pain.
"Oh God, what is your skull made off?!" He screamed through gritted teeth. "Dammit! I think my hand's broken!" He hissed.
"Funny of you to ask." Logan said with a mocking tone in his voice. "After all, it was you who made me this way." He smiled and tapped a finger on the cheek where Stryker had punched him. "Thanks for the adamantium, bub."
Stryker glared at him as he continued to wince in agony. He could barely move his fingers due to the intense pain and soreness in his knuckles. He couldn't even touch his hand without hurting it.
"I guess that settles it then." Logan said. "From now on, you keep your mouth shut while I do all the talkin'." The sight before him was almost laughable. He knew Stryker didn't stand a chance against him, but he had to teach him a lesson.
Yuriko sighed. "You could have at least warned him about the adamantium, Logan." She said as she looked at him.
Logan shrugged. "Hey, he was the one who got himself into this." He looked at Stryker and saw him still trying desperately to move his fingers. "At least now he knows who he's dealing with."
Stryker straightened himself and carefully moved his sore hand to his side. "This is not the end, Logan." He said as he looked at him angrily.
Logan scratched his head and looked at Yuriko. "He really doesn't give up that easily, doesn't he?"
"Well, if there's one trait he retained from his previous self, it's his perseverance. And trust me, when he wants something, he won't stop until he gets it." She knew it was true, and that sent chills up her spine.
She could still remember how the previous Stryker talked about his plans to kill the entire world's mutant population. The fury in his voice and the anger in his eyes still lingered in her mind. To kill them all was his life's only objective. He looked like a man who would never let anyone and anything stand in his way.
If he hadn't lost his memories, she knew she would have killed him without any second thoughts, even if that meant losing her only chance to regain her past.
Logan saw Yuriko deep in thought and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Yuriko. He won't be getting what he wants this time. I guarantee that." He glared at Stryker.
Stryker clenched his jaw as his eyes met Logan's. He hated it whenever they talked about his past. Why did they always have to talk about the man he used to be? For once he wanted them to talk to him as he was now. But then, even he doesn't know if he had truly changed. What if deep inside, he was still the man he once was?
"Anyway, we better get going." Logan said as he walked past Yuriko. "Charles is very much looking forward to meeting the newest member of the team." He smiled at her, then led the way to the study.
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to be continued....
Title: Unforgivable Sinners
By: Cmdr. Gabe E.
Note: This fanfiction occurs entirely in the X-Men movie-verse . Characters' unspoken thoughts are enclosed in .
= = = = = = = = == = = = = =
Here's a long one for you guys !!! Thanks again for all the reviews o --- and don't worry....the rest of the X-Men will be in the next chapter ! As for now, I hope you all enjoy this one o!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
CHAPTER 25: Caught in the middle
She looked over Logan's shoulder and saw Stryker leaning against the wall. He looked like he was still recovering from the beatings he had received earlier. She could see him staring back at her, but there was something different in his eyes. It was as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't. What did he want to say? What did he want from her now?
Yuriko averted her eyes from his stare and pressed her cheek against Logan's chest. She couldn't ignore the confusion that lingered in her mind. She knew she should move on and bury the life she had as Lady Deathstrike, but would she really be able to forgive Stryker for everything he had done? Did she have to give him another chance?
Logan gently unwrapped his arms from her body and stared into her eyes. A soft smile appeared on Yuriko's lips as she saw the calmness in Logan's face. Stryker was wrong when he called Logan an animal. Logan was as human as any human could be, and even more.
"I believe now is a good time to talk with the professor." He said.
Logan saw the smile on Yuriko's face and knew that she had forgiven him for what he had done. He didn't want her to think that fighting was the only thing that mattered to him. When they first met, they met as enemies. They fought each other, hurt each other, and he killed her. He saw her die. But now he was grateful that she survived.
"I'll meet you downstairs in front of the elevator." He added. His eyes looked at Stryker. He still despised the sight of him. "Charles wants to talk with him too, so I suggest you go tell your friend to fix himself up."
He gently placed a hand on Yuriko's shoulder and smiled as his eyes looked into hers. "I'll see you soon". He turned around and walked down the hall.
Yuriko's eyes focused on Logan until he turned around a corner and disappeared from her sight. She couldn't wait to see him again. She liked how he looked into her eyes. She also couldn't wait to meet with the professor soon. She wanted to thank the man who had unconditionally accepted her into his family.
She turned around and looked at Stryker. His back was still against the wall. She could see his chest moving up and down as he breathed through his lips.
"Are you all right?" She asked. There was a hint of concern in her voice.
Stryker winced in pain as he pushed himself off the wall. He could still feel his entire body aching. He rubbed the back of his neck and groaned. He really thought he was going to die in Logan's hands. He could still remember how he hit the wall hard when he was flung out of the room. And he saw nothing but Logan's fist as he hit him again and again and again. If it weren't for Yuriko, he would probably be dead by now.
"I'm fine." He said firmly as he looked at her.
He straightened his suit and smoothed his tie. His body wanted to lie down and rest, but he didn't want Yuriko to think of him as a weak, pathetic, old man who could barely keep himself on his feet. He knew he was powerless compared to the likes of them, but he still wanted respect. He wanted to keep his dignity intact.
"It was my fault. I apologize." She said, looking at him.
Stryker noticed the warmth in her eyes. He wasn't sure why Yuriko was apologizing, but he liked the way she was looking at him now. It was his first time to see Yuriko look at him without a hint of contempt, or hatred. The anger in her eyes was gone. And the tone of her voice was mellow, as if she was truly concerned. Was he finally starting to reach the woman behind the claws?
Yuriko quickly looked away from Stryker. Her eyes focused on the far end of the hall where Logan had disappeared into.
"You heard what Logan said. We're going to meet with the professor soon." She said firmly. She looked at him again. "You should thank him for letting you stay here. If I was the professor, I wouldn't even know if I could stomach your presence in this mansion."
Stryker's eyes wandered to the floor. "Was the professor...one of the people I hurt when I --- I..." Every time he thought of his past, he just wanted to run away. His previous self seemed like a man cared for no one but himself. He knew he did terrible things...Things that could never be changed. How could he have lived that way for so long?
"You almost killed him, William." Her eyes looked at him. She wanted to see his reaction. She wanted to see how he would react towards the things he himself had done.
Yuriko's words hit him hard. He knew she was staring at him, but he couldn't find the guts to look back. He almost killed the man who had just allowed him to stay in the mansion, the only man who could possibly understand him. His past self now seemed like the exact opposite of the professor. While the professor was a good, kind man who cared for everyone, he, William Stryker, was the man who wanted everyone destroyed.
He slowly moved his eyes to meet hers. "Then...I shall ask for his forgiveness...and hope that he will find me worth forgiving."
"The professor is a kind man. Unlike me, he'll forgive you." She said coldly.
She knew Stryker wanted to change. His previous life haunted him like a nightmare as hers did to her. She didn't want to admit it, but in a way, they were both the same. They both wanted to escape from the past that refused to go away.
She looked away from Stryker and started to walk down the hall towards the elevator. She suddenly felt him reach out for her hand, and as soon as his skin touched hers, she saw another vision.
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
She saw herself....In a house. She seemed to be in a living room. She had a suitcase in one hand and she was quickly walking away from someone. She was walking away from --- a man --- Stryker. He was following her. Like in her previous vision, he was also in the same age as her. He looked so young that she almost didn't recognize him.
She saw him grab her wrist, which stopped her from moving in further. She turned around to look at him and then they both started arguing. She couldn't hear anything, but she could see their lips moving so fast. They both looked so angry and so sad at the same time. She could almost see herself on the verge of crying.
The Yuriko in her vision suddenly pulled her hand away from Stryker's grip. He tried to wrap his arms around her, but she screamed and pushed him away. She could see tears running down her cheeks as she turned around and walked away from him.
She saw herself walk out of the front door and into the pouring rain. That was the last she saw of her in that vision. The next thing she saw was Stryker standing in the living room. He looked so angry as his eyes stared at the front door where she exited. She saw him clench his fists, then he followed after her.
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Yuriko's eyes opened wide when she felt Stryker's hand holding hers. She could feel her heart beating so fast as vague images of the vision still lingered in her mind. She turned around and looked at him. Who was William Stryker before she became Lady Deathstrike? Why did she keep on seeing him in her mind?
"Thank you." He said as he gently held her hand. "...For saving my life."
She slowly pulled her hand from him and stepped away. "Don't thank me just yet." She said coldly.
She didn't want to be too close to him right now. She didn't even want to feel his touch in any way. She could still remember the way he wrapped his arms around her in the vision. There was something about it that scared her. It was as if he didn't want to let her go. And the anger in Stryker's face at the end of it scared her even more.
She knew something happened after Stryker went after her. She knew something terrible happened after that. She could feel it in her gut. If only she could remember.
Yuriko turned away from him and walked down the hall towards the elevator. Stryker sighed and followed after her. He knew they were going to be with that Logan again, and he hated the thought of it. He didn't like it whenever that man was around. He hated the way Yuriko looked at Logan. He didn't know why, but he hated it.
The two of them took the elevator to the first floor and met up with Logan on the main entrance of the mansion.
"Yuriko." He said with a smile on his face. He was definitely glad to see her again. Seeing her made him forget about the pain of Jean's death. Perhaps someday, she would make him forget about Jean herself.
His eyes narrowed as he saw Stryker following after her. He still couldn't understand why the professor let him stay in the mansion.
"I do hope you briefed him about the meeting with the professor." He said firmly.
"Don't worry, Logan. I did." She said as she looked back at him. She knew he was glad to see her again too. She couldn't understand it, but whenever they were together, they felt like two parts of one whole.
Logan looked at Stryker and glared at him. "Because if he pulls another one of his stunts, I'll make him experience hell on earth and guarantee that he stays there until he dies."
Stryker arched an eyebrow and looked back at Logan. "Hell on earth? I'm sorry to spoil your fun, my friend, but I've apparently been there before. It seems that even hell doesn't want me in it. And I doubt that it wants me back." He said with a mocking tone in his voice.
Logan suddenly unleashed his claws and marched towards his nemesis. His eyes flared with anger as he gritted his teeth. He'd had enough of that man's pride. How dare he mock him after what just happened between them?
Stryker saw Logan heading towards him and stared back into his eyes. If he had to fight Logan, then he would. He'd had enough of Yuriko doing all the fighting for him. He didn't want to rely on her anymore. If Logan was going to kill him, then he wasn't going to go down without a fight. He clenched his fist and headed straight towards Logan.
Yuriko suddenly had a panicked look on her face as she saw the two men heading towards each other. Both of them looked eager to fight. She had to do something before another battle ensued before her. She'd had enough of their mindless, childish skirmishes.
She quickly ran between Logan and Stryker and pushed them apart before either of them could lay a finger on one another. She could feel them struggling as she kept them away from each other's fists, or in Stryker's case, Logan's claws.
"Let me go, Yuriko!" Logan shouted. His eyes were focused on Stryker.
"This is a fight between two men. Step aside and let us finish this." Stryker said as he angrily stared at Logan.
"ENOUGH!!! I've had enough of you two!!!" She shouted angrily. The sound of her voice echoed in the main entrance.
The two men calmed down, but she could still feel the tension in the air.
Yuriko looked at Stryker with her hand still on his chest. "You! You don't stand a chance against Logan. If I let you go, you'll find your body scattered all over the floor even before you could touch him." She said imposingly.
Then she turned her head towards Logan. "And you, Logan, please. Don't let him get to you." She said with a begging tone in her voice.
"Just tell him to keep his mouth shut next time." Logan said firmly.
Stryker's eyes glared at Logan. "I'll only keep my mouth shut after I've buried my fist in your face." He said.
"William!" She shouted at him.
Logan stepped away from Yuriko and retracted his claws. He looked at Stryker and arched an eyebrow. "Fine. If punching me is the only way for him to keep his big mouth shut, then let him do it." A sly smile curled up the corner of his lips.
"What!?" Yuriko asked with a curious look on her face.
He looked at Yuriko and smiled. "And for you, Yuriko, I won't even fight back."
"Logan, what do you think you're doing?" She asked. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him.
Stryker pulled away from Yuriko and straightened his suit. He walked in front of Logan and stared into his eyes.
"He probably thinks I can't punch hard enough." Stryker said. His jaw tightened as he looked at the man who had challenged him. "I'm warning you, my friend. I may not have your flashy claws, but I still got what it takes to take down a fully grown man."
Stryker's arrogance almost made him laugh. "Well I'm a fully grown man. Let's see if you can take me down." Logan said in a rather cocky way.
Stryker looked at Yuriko. "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to your friend, Yuriko. As you can see, he was the one who brought this upon himself."
He clenched his fist and pulled it back. He wanted to take down Logan in one punch. He gritted his teeth and sent a swift, hard punch on Logan's cheek. The force of Stryker's fist looked fast and hard enough to break through a wooden wall.
The room was filled with silence, as the two men remained standing. Stryker was expecting Logan to fall any time soon, but he just stood there unmoving. He didn't even flinch when Stryker's fist hit his face.
"Looks like you were wrong after all." He said.
Stryker quickly pulled his fist away from Logan and cried out in agony. The sound of his scream echoed in the main entrance of the mansion. He cradled his fist on his chest and continued to groan in pain.
"Oh God, what is your skull made off?!" He screamed through gritted teeth. "Dammit! I think my hand's broken!" He hissed.
"Funny of you to ask." Logan said with a mocking tone in his voice. "After all, it was you who made me this way." He smiled and tapped a finger on the cheek where Stryker had punched him. "Thanks for the adamantium, bub."
Stryker glared at him as he continued to wince in agony. He could barely move his fingers due to the intense pain and soreness in his knuckles. He couldn't even touch his hand without hurting it.
"I guess that settles it then." Logan said. "From now on, you keep your mouth shut while I do all the talkin'." The sight before him was almost laughable. He knew Stryker didn't stand a chance against him, but he had to teach him a lesson.
Yuriko sighed. "You could have at least warned him about the adamantium, Logan." She said as she looked at him.
Logan shrugged. "Hey, he was the one who got himself into this." He looked at Stryker and saw him still trying desperately to move his fingers. "At least now he knows who he's dealing with."
Stryker straightened himself and carefully moved his sore hand to his side. "This is not the end, Logan." He said as he looked at him angrily.
Logan scratched his head and looked at Yuriko. "He really doesn't give up that easily, doesn't he?"
"Well, if there's one trait he retained from his previous self, it's his perseverance. And trust me, when he wants something, he won't stop until he gets it." She knew it was true, and that sent chills up her spine.
She could still remember how the previous Stryker talked about his plans to kill the entire world's mutant population. The fury in his voice and the anger in his eyes still lingered in her mind. To kill them all was his life's only objective. He looked like a man who would never let anyone and anything stand in his way.
If he hadn't lost his memories, she knew she would have killed him without any second thoughts, even if that meant losing her only chance to regain her past.
Logan saw Yuriko deep in thought and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Yuriko. He won't be getting what he wants this time. I guarantee that." He glared at Stryker.
Stryker clenched his jaw as his eyes met Logan's. He hated it whenever they talked about his past. Why did they always have to talk about the man he used to be? For once he wanted them to talk to him as he was now. But then, even he doesn't know if he had truly changed. What if deep inside, he was still the man he once was?
"Anyway, we better get going." Logan said as he walked past Yuriko. "Charles is very much looking forward to meeting the newest member of the team." He smiled at her, then led the way to the study.
= = = = = = = = = =
to be continued....