ALPHA/OMEGA

Book Two

SIX

"You sure this is the place?" Logan growled, nerves on edge.

Scott nodded. "The professor and Carl put it here."

"Oh, now you trust him?" Logan snarled.

Scott glanced over at him. "What, you got a crush on the geek? Got a thing for any member of the Grey family?"

"Knock it off, both of you." Storm ordered, putting a hand on Logan's chest to keep him from approaching Scott.

They were entering the caverns that the Professor had pinpointed as the entrance to Magneto's possible hideout. The four team-members - Scott, Storm, Logan, and Kurt - were carefully picking their way through.

Kurt crouched down, examining the floor. "Vouldn't people using this place leave tracks? Here I see only the marks of animals."

"Maybe there's another entrance," Scott said.

They made slow but steady progress into the caves. Eventually, they came to a large cavern, big enough that their flashlights didn't fully penetrate the darkness.

"This place is huge," Storm said wonderingly. She made as if to explore, but Logan grabbed her arm.

"Wait." He sniffed. He trusted his senses a great deal, and two things about this place were creeping him out. One, it seemed very much like the cavern in his nightmares. And second, there was a very very familiar scent in the air, and it was setting off every mental alarm bell he had. Waving the others to stillness, he listened very closely.

Scott watched Logan, having learned the hard way to trust the Wolverine. But he still jumped when Logan suddenly snapped, "Kurt! Get Storm out of here! Scott, be ready!" A sudden squeak from Storm and a popping sound told Scott that Kurt had gotten them away when a low snarl emerged from the shadows. As Scott raised his hand to his visor, prepared to adjust to any attack, he heard the distinctive shing of Wolverine's claws extending.

A massive form lurched into the weak light cast by Storm's abandoned flashlight. Scott stared up at the creature from a nightmare. A huge half-man, half-wolf stood there, slobbering and snarling. Soon, the sound was echoed around the room.

"We're surrounded." Logan's voice was grim, implacable, and far deeper than usual. Scott spared a glance to see the Wolverine seemed changed, almost calm. "Werewolves. Among others," Logan said matter of factly.

"There's no such thing!" Scott snapped, edging closer to Logan. The fierce mutant seemed to stand taller than usual, but still poised for action. Scott made mental note of the difference -- Wolverine always crouched when tensing for combat, but now he seemed loose, relaxed almost.

"There certainly is." Just as Logan made that stunning announcement, the monsters attacked.

Despite their best efforts, they were quickly separated. The monsters could be burned and thrown back by Scott's eyes, but they didn't seem to die. Logan was a snarling dervish, growling and slashing at the were-creatures just as viciously as they swiped at him. "Don't get bit!" Logan hollered, using his claws to drive one back.

Unfortunately, his advice came a second too late. Scott had stepped back to find better footing, only to find himself backed against another beast. Quickly, the werewolf snapped at his raised arm. Scott blasted the thing away, but almost instantly felt a stinging through his entire body.

With a pop, Nightcrawler reappeared.

"GET SCOTT!" Logan roared, fending off several werewolves so that the blue man could grab Scott and teleport away. He roared as a pouncing were-panther toppled him to the ground, sinking its claws into his back. He swiped behind his back with his claws, raking across the beast's eyes. It snarled and retreated, allowing Logan to spring to his feet. An instant later, Logan felt arms wrap around his chest, and with a pop and a flash of nothingness, he found himself lying on the floor of the X-Jet.

"Go!" Kurt called, and Storm sent the jet flying back to the mansion.

As soon as he found his footing, Logan checked on Scott. Kurt was trying to hold the man still, but he kept writhing as if in great pain.

"I don't know vhat to do! He hass only this one wound here." Kurt's voice was strained as he indicated the bite on Scott's upper arm. "Och! You are bitten too!"

"No, just scratches. I'm fine." Logan insisted calmly, even as he winced. The monsters had clawed him, but not managed to bite.

Logan, what has happened? The Professor's distinctive voice filled his mind.

We were ambushed. By werewolves. Scott's been bitten.

Werewolves? How is that possible?

Beats me. We're on our way in.

The trip home took only a few minutes, as Storm pushed the jet to its limits. Still, it took both Logan and Kurt to hold Scott down. The team-leader writhed and moaned, sweat rolling down his face. Worse, whenever he could slip a hand free, he'd try to claw off his visor, risking everyone. Logan mentally urged Storm on with every passing second. He could feel a growing sense of panic in his chest, brought on by the frighteningly familiar attack, the disturbing nature of Scott's reactions, and the disjointed memories that told him Scott's reaction was odd. How the hell did I know those were WEREWOLVES, of all things? Logan wondered. Something about the scent had triggered memories, knowledge he never knew he possessed. After all, werewolves were myths.

But apparently not.

Moments later, Storm maneuvered the jet into its underground hanger. As soon as they opened the hatch, Carl yelled up to them, "I've got a gurney here, bring him down!" Logan sighed in relief. He spared a moment to look out, and saw Carl looking up. Their eyes met, and somehow, Logan was able to relax and let go of his panic. Carl was here, and Carl was brilliant. He'd know what to do.

Logan and Kurt deposited Scott onto the gurney, and Carl quickly strapped the afflicted man down securely. "Easy, brother," Carl said softly, soothingly. "You're home safe." He glanced up at Logan. "Anyone else bitten?"

"He vas injured. But, he says he is fine." Kurt said, pointing at Logan.

"I am! Scratched up, but that's already healed."

Carl nodded, apparently satisfied. "Let's go."

They all gathered in the medical clinic, Scott's moans and gasps keeping everyone tense. Professor Xavier awaited them there, and watched over them all. "I will try to get through to him," he agreed when Carl asked. He placed his hands on either side of Scott's face, his brows drawn in concentration. After a moment, he whispered, "Burns. It burns."

"Scott? Brother, tell me everything," Carl ordered, his voice even.

"Bit my arm. Fire, burns, burning inside. My eyes burn!" Scott's pain caused the Professor's voice to shake. He released Scott, who thrashed on the gurney.

"The werewolf venom is interacting badly with his mutation. I don't know how this could happen! You were underground, there was no moonlight! They shouldn't have been in wolf form at all!" Carl seemed to struggle to suppress his own panic.

"The full moon isn't for another six days," Storm said.

"Werewolves, after their first full moon, turn at any moonlight. But there has to be moonlight. On top of that, they're supposed to be extinct!"

Kurt sidled up to Storm. "He is babbling."

"No. He's thinking out loud," Storm whispered back.

"Unless the differences are tied to mutation? Sweet Mary Immaculata!" Carl exclaimed, like a man with a revelation. "Damn! Mutant werewolves! Magneto is creating mutant werewolves! How the hell did he do it? There shouldn't be any source of venom! The Church made absolutely sure that the serum was sent everywhere, but that was so long ago, I don't know if any is even available to help Scott!" He glanced at Logan, as if for help.

Their eyes met again, and Logan felt a pull in his gut, an urge to help and comfort the other, a connection he couldn't explain. He tried to project faith in Carl, faith that the brilliant man would be able to figure this out.

Carl's eyes widened, and then he suddenly smacked himself in the forehead. "Of course!" He laughed, causing Storm and Kurt to give him shocked looks. The Professor gasped, and then smiled. Obviously, he'd read Carl's mind. Carl turned to him, and they exchanged identical grins.

"What?" Logan asked, suddenly suspicious.

Carl went over to a cabinet, flinging open the doors and assembling medical supplies. "I'm going to the source."

"Huh?"

"Kurt. Ororo. Please come with me. We will leave Carl to his work." The Professor led the other two out of the room.

"But, Professor, Scott--" Storm began to protest.

"Is in the very best of hands." Xavier finished her sentence, drawing her out of the room.

Logan eyed Carl suspiciously. "What are you going to do? Why am I still here?"

Carl set a tray on a nearby table. He pulled on latex gloves and waved Logan to a chair. "You're going to save Scott's life." He opened an alcohol wipe and ordered Logan, "Roll up your sleeve."