THE FAMILY
by TricaLee
Disclaimer: Don't own the X-Men.... I wish I did! I own Bell so if you want to use her, ask first.
Reviews would be nice.
SUMMARY: AU: Mystique works for Xavier and Magneto wasn't able to get his hands on the Senator, he had Sabretooth grab any person he wanted to... to test his machine on. The results were more then even he expected or ever wanted.
Rating PG-13 might go up, we'll see Subject: Humor/Romance/Adventure
CHAPTER 1: HOW TO MAKE A MUTANT, FIRST FIND A NORM
She was walking in the park in the dark, something that she knew was dangerous, but she didn't care, she knew no one cared. She had nobody or nothing to live for, at least at that moment. She stopped walking when she heard something in the bushes and felt eyes upon her. A mugger, an animal? She sighed. What did it matter? She gasped as the blonde, hairy, fur dressed giant, stepped out of the bushes and growled at her. She calmed from her surprise. Oh, it's one of those mutant guys, is all. She sighed. And the she took a deep breath.
"Hey, tall, hairy and somewhat handsome, what's up?" She saw that his eyebrow arched in surprise. Then he grinned, exposing his elongated canines, to his surprise it did not frighten her.
"You are!" He laughed and picked her up and threw her over his left shoulder like a bag of potatoes.
"OOOFFFF!" She felt the air rush out of her lungs as she landed over his shoulder. "Why does all the weird stuff happen to me?" She asked herself a loud. "You want to put me down there sport?" She said only a little louder with a lilt in her voice. She wasn't really scared, the way she was feeling at the moment she was only mildly irritated. She felt him rumble as he laughed at her. "Gee does this mean we're engaged?!" The woman asked sarcastically. That only made the jolly blonde giant laugh louder and he trotted off carrying her out of the park like she'd weighed nothing. She groaned. "This has not been the best day of my life, and by the looks of it, it's going to get worse."
He tossed her in the back seat of a large customized car she saw that it had him written all over it. He got into the driver's seat and she heard the doors lock. She sighed and with a long standing habit she did up the seat belt. She heard the deep chuckle of her kidnapper. She rolled her eyes; this was going to be a long night. She gripped the seat and was certain he was going to peal out and hotrod it to wherever. Her giant blonde kidnapper laughed and chuckled as he drove like a maniac down the street of the city. It was surprisingly empty and quiet. And since she needed one...there wasn't a cop in sight. Go figure! The car sped away with no hindrance of any kind it was making good time. He pulled into a private airstrip and screeched to a halt. It was a good thing she had put on her seatbelt for she would have ended up in the front seat. Her ears rang with the big man's laughter. 'Well, at least he was having a good time, that's all that matters', she thought. She undid her seatbelt and waited for him to unlock the door and drag her out of the car. 'I wonder if he's going to kill me', she mused. The giant unlocked the doors and swiftly got out of the car opening the back door. She half expected him to yank her out, but he did not.
"Okay, I'm coming; I know when I'm outmanned and outgunned." She grinned ruefully. She got out of the car and stared up at the huge guy. He smiled at her and picked her up and threw her over his shoulder again.
"You know, I can walk." She said patiently. He responded with a loud guffaw and smacked her on her rump, sharply. "HEY!!" His only response was to laugh even louder, he was having fun.
"I begin to like you, sweet." He said in a deep voice, in a surprising gentle tone.
"Oh, lucky me." She was rewarded for her dour tone with another smack on the rump. "Aw!!! Come on, cut it out!!!!" The giant ignored her and carried her towards a hanger with long strides that ate up the ground and they were in the hanger in mere moments. He put her down in front of a fancy helicopter. He turned to open the door and she fled. It caught him by surprise because until then she had been a rather passive hostage. It took only a few strides to catch up and he grabbed her. He threw her over his shoulder again, but this time she struggled. "Put me down, put me down. I don't want to fly....I can't fly!! No!" Kicking wildly she shrieked and growled and put up quite a fight. He put her down in front of the chopper again and grabbed the front of her coat and lifted her up to his eye level. She immediately calmed down and stopped fighting panting heavily.
"You may either fly awake or unconscious...you're choice." He was amused that she was afraid of flying, but not of him.
"But I don't like to fly." She said in a quiet voice, almost whispering.
"Don't worry. I'm a good pilot. You'll be fine." 'Why was he being nice to her?' It wasn't in his nature to be nice. But he liked her, and the fact that she was afraid bothered him for some reason. He was beginning to regret his choice. 'Let her go and find another. But Eric was adamant about the subject should be healthy, and she smelled and looked healthy enough. He was also running out of time.' He opened the door of the chopper and motioned her to climb in. She bit her lip nervously. Taking a deep breath, she climbed up into the helicopter and sat down in one of the seats and buckled up. She was grateful that it was nighttime and she wouldn't have to watch the scenery go by. The giant climbed into the pilot's seat and began the start-up procedures. It wasn't long before it was making a loud noise and the rotator blades began to spin very fast causing the wind in the hanger to become fierce. The chopper lift from the floor of the hanger and they were off. The boast of him being a good pilot was not an idle one, for they left without any trouble or alerting anyone save the watchman who was on their payroll. The pilot looked behind him in the passenger area for only a moment. He noticed that she was sitting very still and had a death grip on the edge of her seat with her eyes screwed shut.
It was a fairly long trip and no matter how terrified the woman was she couldn't keep awake and she had fallen asleep. He landed on the pad on the island, and she didn't wake. Good. He shut down the aircraft and went to unbuckle his acquisition and picked her up and carried her in his arms carefully so that she wouldn't wake.
"Ya worn't supposed to kill the subject." An off colored fellow said in an English accent. He glared at the big guy as he brought the woman into the main part of the base.
"She not dead, Toad," He said angrily. "She just asleep, it's been a long flight."
"Whot did she do....Volunteer?" Toad said caustically. His accent became more pronounced with his sarcasm.
"Practically, I think she likes me."
"She must be mad. Better take her to the boss, he's pitching a fit 'cause you're late as it is." The man said. The woman woke up and wrinkled her nose.
"Damn! Who needs a bath, and why haven't you brushed your breath yet?" The woman woke up and glared at Toad.
"Hey! Mind your manners, bird!!" He said angrily. She snickered at him.
"What's the matter? Can't take the truth? I mean you really reek. When's the last time you changed your clothes, huh?" She scolded him like family.
"Well, hey, what about him. He does not excusably smell like a rose himself!" The smaller man whined.
"He smells like a man, while you on the other hand, smell like you've been soaked in old pond water and set in the sun for a month." The large giant laughed and snorted at his comrade in crime.
An older man with gray hair and a regal barring came into the area. "Finally." He looked at the woman in the large man's arm. "I told you I wanted a subject, and you come back here with one of your floosies." He said angrily.
"Who you calling a floozy, buster!" The woman exclaimed.
"She's the one I chose. She's not a floozy, at least not yet." He grinned.
"Hey!"
"Very well, bring her." The older man said.
"Excuse me, but it was a long trip. You got a little girls room or something?"
"Yes, well alright. Sabretooth show her to the facilities. Don't try to escape."
"Riiiiight. Well, I've tried that already and the blonde Paul Bunyan here caught me in a few strides, so I'm not trying that again." She said matter-of-factly. She looked up at her kidnapper. "Sabretooth, huh? I kinda like that." She smiled at him. "Seems to suit you, you're more like a Cave Lion if you asked me. Or maybe a step back towards one of the older forms of Homo sapiens, you know, big, tough and hefty." She prattled on as Sabretooth carried her to the facilities. "Sexy."
After taking care of her um business and throwing some water on her face she realized she was in real trouble here. But to her surprise she didn't seem to care all that much. Life for the past three years had been horrible and she didn't know when it was going to stop being horrible. She dried off her face and looked into the mirror. All she saw looking back at her was a very unhappy, unattractive, lonely, depressed woman of little talent and a dead-end job that she just got fired from; few friends and no future; and pitifully average. She heaved a great sigh that sounded like death warmed over even to her. She opened the door and walked out and faced her abductors.
"So, um what's up...doc?" That got a smile from the elderly man and a chuckle from Sabretooth, Toad only rolled his eyes. She turned to him and said. "Are you going to take a shower, is that why you're here? I really hope so."
"Bloody, Yankee birds ain't got any couth att'all." Toad said angrily. Sabretooth laughed.
"Well, actually Toad. She is right. Even I shower now and again. When the last time you did, when Princess Di was alive?" Toad growled at the big man and was ready to leap at him.
"Now, children....Behave." The elderly man said sternly.
"Wow dad, you've got some strange kids there! Did you need a sitter for them or a mother?" The woman said with a little humor in her voice. Even the elderly man chuckled.
"Bring her, Sabretooth." He ordered. Sabretooth picked up the woman and tossed her over his shoulder again.
"Hey! I told you I can walk!" She protested.
"I like carrying you." He said.
"I noticed. Hey my ribs are getting kind of sore, would you please put me down?" Her only answer was another swat, a little harder this time on her butt. She only grunted this time. He didn't seem to be the easiest man in the world to reason with. They kept moving until they reached a dark cave where she could barely see some strange looking equipment that was in the center of the cave.
"Put her in the chair, Sabretooth." The elderly gentlemen ordered.
"Yes, Erick." Sabretooth responded. 'So the elderly gent had a name' the woman thought. 'Joy.' She was placed in a metal chair that was extremely hard and cold. Her ankles and wrists were clamped onto the chair.
"You know your people are scared of my kind." Erick said in a tone like he was instructing a class of students.
"You mean, mad scientists. Sure you got my vote for being scary. I'm not letting your looks fool me. Just because you look like my Uncle Mike doesn't mean you're not dangerous." She was startled by the fact that the chair began to follow Erick as he walked down some kind of runway and she heard no machinery of any kind.
"No, I mean mutants. Your kind is afraid of them: of us."
"You must be talking about someone else. I don't have a problem with mutants. We are all mutants. I mean, every living thing on this planet was the result of mutation. At least that what my dad always said."
"Well then, maybe you belong to our group, after all." Erick said as the chair came to a stop. He climbed up into a chamber and gripped onto something that looked like handles. For the seconded time she felt fear grip her stomach. She was strapped down in a chair and he was going to do something unpleasant to her. She saw Sabretooth frown disapprovingly. At Erick, she assumed. She watched him carefully and he seems to concentrate. The machine he was standing on started humming and the large rings above him began spinning and spinning around faster and faster. A brilliant white light started to emanate at the top center of the device where the rings connected. It started to flow, and grow like a wave on the ocean until it filled the whole cave and washed over her.
Pain!!! Like she never felt before! Hit her in waves and wouldn't stop! She screamed and screamed in both pain a fear. What was he doing to her?! Why did he want to do this to her? Finally what seemed like a year, the intense pain stopped the bright light receded and the humming rings stopped. She slouched into the chair panting; every part of her body was throbbing. She looked up with such a pained look on her face and in her eyes, that even Toad was affected. Toad went over to Erick and pried him out of the handles and helped him down from the machine and he leaned on him. They struggled by and Erick leaned down and whispered tiredly into her hear.
"Welcome, sister." She looked at him with something akin to pity and sorrow. He closed his eyes and hobbled away leaning heavily on Toad. Sabretooth walked slowly over to the chair and without a word unclasped the shackles that held her to the chair.
"I know that I said I could walk, ever since we met, but I can't now. I hurt so very much." She spoke barely above a harsh whisper. Sabretooth merely nodded and gently picked her up and carried her to the cell. Fortunately it had a nice bed in it and he placed her carefully on it. He saw her gulp a few times and he went over to the sink and got her a glass of water which she drank quickly. "Thanks." He said nothing but nodded and left. She lay on the bed and tried to sleep.
CHAPTER 2: THE PAIN OF BECOMING A MUTANT
The hours passed slowly for the woman in the cell. The pain she felt was now constant and getting worse. A fever had started and it raged and buckets full of sweat poured off of her in almost a stream of moisture. Sabretooth checked on her and became angry with Erick with each passing minute. He stalked the halls of the base with a great sense of purpose.
"Erick! We need to talk!" Sabretooth growled angrily.
"Watch your tone, Sabretooth!" Erick said with a great deal of authority. He didn't like his minions to be so self assured.
"I am, that's why you're still breathing, Erick!" Sabretooth said snarling. "This machine of yours it too strong...she's dying. I can smell it."
"It's just a transitory stage, Sabretooth. She will be alright." He said trying to soothe the large man.
"Dream on, Erick. She's dying and we both know it! Using that machine on the summit conference will just turn the world against mutants even more." Sabretooth said huffing with anger.
"Then I'll just adjust the machine. I'll tone it down. I'll need you to get another subject for the next test."
"Next test! Erick, the first time almost killed you...And that other mutant is no longer available!" 'Why on earth did he get involved with this man anyway?' He turned to go and heard Erick give him another order.
"Get rid of the failure and bring me another one. And don't waste any time, we don't have." Sabretooth huffed in reply. Erick may look like a frail old man in his sixties...seventies, but like must dangerous things, looks could be deceiving.
Sabretooth went to the cell and looked at the woman in the cell, writhing on the bed covered with her sweat...dying. She was gasping and groaning, and sounded as if she was struggling for every breath. He opened the cell door and went inside. She turned to look at him.
"I'm not doing so good." She stated calmly, her voice gurgled, quietly.
"No, you're not." Sabretooth said quietly, and gave her some water. "We are leaving here." He picked her up in his arms and he carried her out of the cell.
The trip to the mainland was longer or it just seemed longer. All that he could hear was her rasping breath. They landed at the private airfield that they had left not too long ago. He took her out of the chopper and put her in the car. They drove a ways towards some woods.
"Are you taking me to a doctor?" She asked between gasps.
"No. No doctor can help you." He said sadly.
"I didn't think so. Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere nice, and quiet...beautiful."
"Oh, good." She coughed up some blood. The scent of her blood hit him like a brick to the face. She heard him growl. They drove for awhile longer, and then he stopped the car and got out and opened the trunk. He took out a blanket and went to get her and he wrapped her into it tightly. He carried her into the woods. It was a special place for him, surrounded by civilization, but still a wild and untamed place. He got to a slight incline that looked over to the lake. The moon was shining a bit thru the clouds and reflecting on the water softly. He placed her on a comfortable tuff of moss and leaned her up against his torso. She grabbed him by the hand, and her short, sharp fingernails dug into his palms as spasms of pain course thru her body.
The pain in his palm was just a slight nuisance, even when he started bleeding. His healing factor took care of the openings and sealed them with no problem. "Sorry." She whispered harshly.
"It's not a problem for me." He stated quietly and placed the other hand on her back, stroking it in a comforting way. Nothing more was said for almost an hour when Sabretooth heard and felt something in her change. Her breathing had slowed and quieted. At first he thought she was close to death, but her scent had changed. The fever that he had felt in her hand was almost gone. She slid down off of his chest where she had been leaning and placed her head in his lap, still holding on this hand, but the grip had slackened, relaxed. She was asleep now; the mutation that the machine had awakened in her was finished. Was he wrong that she was dying? No, his nose didn't lie to him. She had been dying, so why hadn't she?
"Hey sweet, wake up." He said to her, gently shaking her.
"Five more minutes, dad...Okay?" She said sleepily. Sabretooth chuckled. She woke up with a start. "Hey! Why aren't I dead?!" She exclaimed, surprised.
"Good question, sweet." He stared at her at amazement her eyes were glowing a dark red. She was now glowing; her body was wrapped up in a bright white aura. Her eyes went from glowing red to glowing white while he was watching. It hit him, she had been holding onto his hand for an hour. What if she now had the ability to mimic talents? He didn't feel a drain or weakness of any kind. She had somehow, without thinking adapted his healing factor to herself. She had been healed, and then some. She began to change and grow. He watched in fascination while she changed into someone totally different. She stood up and he got to his feet with her. She was still holding his hand, and he felt her hand getting larger and watched breathlessly as she transformed before his very eyes to a female version of..... himself! Only she was softer, and quite beautiful to see. She was now built along the lines of a well muscled female wrestler, with long blonde hair and bright dark eyes, which sent a tingle down his spine and made him feel too warm to breath. No woman had really ever done that to him before, at least not in a long while.
"Uh, Sabretooth? Are you alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost." He smiled. Her voice was now deeper and huskier. It made his throat tighten up and his breath come in short pants. He almost chuckled at her confused look. She didn't realize what had happened to herself. "I feel different." She stopped talking. "Is that my voice?" She asked in surprise. Sabretooth could only nod; he didn't even trust himself to say anything. "What is that smell? And the noise....I can see things here that weren't here before! What's going on?!" She asked him slightly panicked. He only smiled and since he still held her hand he quietly led her to the lake. She noticed that it didn't seem so hard to keep up with him, and she felt taller?
CHAPTER 3: THE IMAGE OF A NEW MUTANT
She looked into the lake at her reflection. "Who the hell is that?!" She exclaimed, turning to Sabretooth with surprise in her eyes.
"You....now." Sabretooth said softly. "It seems that your mutant power is mimicking other powers. I have a healing factor that heals any and all harm to my body in mere moments, or hours, depending on the damage done to it. I also have heightened senses, eyesight, hearing, smell, taste. Very much like an animal's senses. Though why you became a female me, only prettier, is beyond my pitiful learning." He chuckled.
"I'm almost as tall as you are." She stated. She looked down at her hand and saw that her hands were larger then they were originally and had some fine looking nails on it. They were longer, and they looked sharp and strong. She looked at Sabretooth. "If I let go of your hand, will I become me again?" Sabretooth shrugged.
"Do you want to find out?" He asked with a sinister grin. She nodded. She stared at the hand that was holding his. It was like they were made for each other. She kind of chuckled at the thought. 'I guess I am', she thought. Sabretooth smiled at her almost knowing what she was thinking.
"So you want to count to three?" He joked.
"Sounds like a plan." She said.
"ONE. TWO. THREE!" The both shouted together. They released each other's hand at the same time, and waited and waited. They stared at each other for several minutes not saying anything. She cautiously looked down at her hands with one eye closed and peered at her hands. Nothing at all had happened to her. She was the same now as when she had held Sabretooth's hand.
"Hey... the new and improved me!" She twirled around trying to get a good look at herself. "Well, at least I didn't grow a tail." She grinned. "Whoa, what's that! It's a rabbit!" Before she realized it and before Sabretooth could stop her she started chasing after it. He chuckled at her new found instincts, it had been awhile since he chased rabbits, and he admired the speed and quickness of her pursuit. She soon had the rabbit by the scruff of the neck. "Gotcha!'
"Excellent! So, do you want me to start a fire, or are you going to eat it raw. It looks a little scrawny to me." Sabretooth smiled at her, she looked so embarrassed.
"Umm, you're right. It's just a baby after all." She put it down and it took off running for its life again. Sabretooth's hearty laugh filled the forest. She joined him and the trees echoed with their mirth. "I just don't know what got into me."
"The primitive instincts and urges that now are part your life is hard to resist sometimes. Takes a bit of practice, there's nothing to be ashamed of, although it's been awhile since I've chased rabbits. Do it mostly for fun, except when I'm in the wild, then for food."
"Yeah, well it was kind of small and I'm hungrier then that." She gave him a shy grin. "You know, I don't even think I know your real name. I haven't told you mine either." She said turning a little serious.
"Sabretooth is my working name. Victor Greed Walker is my legal name." He gave her a little bow.
"I don't have a working name...yet. My name is Belinda James. My dad just called me Bell." She bowed back.
"I like that. Bell. Suits you to a tee." Victor said smiling.
"Victor is a great name for you, fits you rather well, too." She said back at him. Victor heard her stomach rumble. She blushed again.
"I know a great all night place that serves the best steaks, an all you can eat place." He looked at her and pointed. "But first we have got to get you some clothes." The transformation had left her clothes in tattered rags. Victor was surprised the he was being such a gentleman; she was practically naked and incredibly sexy as far as he was concerned. 'She was doing a lot of blushing tonight', Victor thought. 'Never thought that blushing would be such a turn on.' She went back to the spot that he had originally brought her here, and retrieved the blanket. She wrapped herself in the blanket and he grieved for his poor eyes being deprived of her beautiful body. 'Oh, well, there's plenty of time later.' Her nostrils flared at the unidentified scent coming from Victor. "That scent is called lust, my dear. But I can wait until later." He saw her take a relieved breath. Too much too soon.
"Victor what about Erick?" She asked.
"What about him?" Victor retorted. "I never liked the plan from the beginning. He's perfectly mad and real dangerous. I only was working for him for the money, but no money is worth driving the norms insane. What he plans to do, will only backfire on him. I have tried to tell him, but I'm only the grunt." Victor said, sounding angry. Bell looked a little scared.
"He's planning to use that machine of his on a group of people, isn't he?" Bell said.
"Yeah, at the summit conference . . .you know the one with the world's leaders."
"Is he insane?!" Bell exclaimed. "That would start a war against mutants like the world hadn't seen since...Hitler against the Jews, gypsies and his political opponents." She finished softly.
"Yeah, ya think a survivor of the Nazi prison camps would be smarter then to start something that would lead to the same thing. So far, most of the proponents to mutant rights have been keeping things like that from happening. Erick wants to make the leaders mutants so they can see what it's like to be one." They stood quietly for a time.
"We can't let him do that! I used to be just a regular human, and I know how they'll react to something like this. It's like a mule or burro, you know, pull harder on them and they dig their back legs in deeper...the harder you pull the deeper they dig in."
"Yes, and the more you say no, the more they want to do it. And they don't like to be forced. Come to think of it, neither do mutants."
"Yep. We have got to stop him." Bell said strongly, and she was interrupted by her stomach growling again.
"But first, food and clothes! Clothes first." Victor snickered. "They'll never let you come in looking like that." Victor chuckled. He waited to see if she would blush, she did. Her now sensitive ears picked up a ring from Victor's long coat. He reached into his coat and pulled out a cell phone. "What do you want, Erick?" Victor asked. "Yeah, well I got some errands to run first. I do have a life, ya know." Victor said to Erick with a hard voice. He hung up on him and put the phone back into the inside pocket of his coat.
"Come on Bell. I know a gal that can put together a set of clothes in a hurry." Victor said grabbing her hand and leading her back to the car.
"It's kind of late...Umm.Early Victor. Who would be willing to suit me up?" Bell asked. Victor only chuckled and opened the passenger side of the front seat. "The front seat, really! I guess I've been promoted, huh?"
"Oh, yeah." Victor and Bell got into the car and left the forest behind. Victor had a plan. If he was right about her, then he would make sure she met some of his friends. He smiled at the look Erick will have when they arrived back at the base.
CHAPTER 4: WHAT THE WELL DRESSED MUTANT WEARS
It was predawn and the new senses that Bell had were making her feel a bit giddy. She watched things go by and saw then like she hadn't ever seen before. 'Is this how animals live? No wonder they are the way they are.' She thought to herself. She noticed Victor's body scent even more then before, and was intrigued on how to perceive anything that was so hard to interpret.
"It comes with practice, Bell." Victor said calmly.
"How did you know what I was thinking? Are you telepathic?" Victor chuckled.
"No. You are putting out the scent for confusion."
"Oh. I guess I have a lot to learn." Bell sighed. She did not know where to begin.
"I'll teach you, pet." Victor said, driving down the street towards the fabric district. The city was starting to come to life as people who started work early were making their way to their jobs. He saw the building he wanted and parked behind it. "Come on Bell. Let's wake Angela up. She really shouldn't be sleeping in anyway. I hear there's a movie being shot here next week and they usually use her to help with the wardrobe." Victor said as he helped Bell out of the car. Bell was having a little trouble navigating. She still hadn't quite learned to judge her new space. She thanked him and pulled the blanket closer to her. The predawn air was still on the chilly side. Victor went to the door and pressed a buzzer and pressed the buzzer. It buzzed and buzzed. He waited until a sleepy voice grumpily said.
"I'm up, I'm up. Whatcha want?" A woman's just -got -up voice grated into the intercom.
"Angela I need to see you....now." Victor said into the speaker.
"Aw man, Victor....I'm not in the mood right now...Got a very, very busy day ahead of me." She whined, sleepily. Bell snickered quietly. Victor shot a hard look at her.
"No Angie babe. It's business. Got a customer for ya, a very special customer." Victor said.
"Alright Vic, I'll buzz you in. Be down shortly. Make yourselves at home." The door buzzed and unlocked and Victor opened the door and they both walked in. The followed a narrow hallway that opened up into a huge room that was filled to wall to wall with the makings of clothes. Racks of finished clothing were filled in all different makes and colors of clothing. Bolts of fabric were stacked in neat piles sorted by color, pattern and textures.
"Wow! This is so cool!" Bell said in joyful awe. "MMMM. smells nice in here." She could almost tell how new the dye was on each bolt of cloth. She turned to Victor and grinned. She was tempted to go over and hug one particular bolt of cloth, merely from the look of it, it looked very soft.
"Let's go wait over here," Victor said staking her by the arm. "Angie might say make yourself at home, but she gets real ticked if someone messes with her fabrics. He led her over to what look like a reception room that had huge couches and overstuffed chairs in it.
"UUUrrrrrwww. A leather chair!" Cooed Bell and she went over and plopped down on it settling herself deep into the seat with almost a purr. Victor chuckled.
Victor went to a small area off to the left of the room and entered the little kitchen and began to make coffee.
"French roast! My personal favorite!" Shouted Bell from the chair. Victor grinned. Impressive, he hadn't even opened the packet yet. He had only filled the urn with water, and put in the filter. He then tore open the packet and poured the coffee grounds into the filter, closed up the urn and turned it on. It was good thing that is one of the smaller urns, or it would take the rest of the morning to brew it. Angie would probably want a mug, now! Angie was not a morning person, but she did get up early. Her staff of tailors, fitters and cutters would not be in until after seven o'clock. They had been an item for several years, off and on. She was intrigued by his animal side and he just like the way she put her self into her love making. She was a good screamer and scratcher. She could hold a decent conversation too. It surprised him that a Rhodes Scholar would become a fashion designer but he guessed it took all kinds. He went back into the reception room and sat down on the huge sofa. He eyed Bell who had snuggled deeper into the chair she looked at him sleepily and yawned. He noticed that she had his canines, and grinned. She might be hit on by a lot of men, but when they see those teeth, it might just cool them off pretty fast. 'Just as well,' he thought, 'she's mine!' Of course he'd have to ask her first if she would be. And he still had a small matter to deal with. But he had that feeling it wouldn't be a problem.
The coffee was almost ready and Angela came down from her apartment over her workplace. She was tall, lanky and she looked more like her models then her models did. She did have some meat on her bones, and she had lustiness about her. Bell sat up and gave her a sniff. She frowned, 'when did I start doing that?' She asked herself.
"Vic, babe!" Angela exclaimed and ran to him and jumped into his arms and gave him a big hug and series of kisses. Bell found herself growling at her. "Whoa, Vic, I didn't know you had a sister." Angela said cheerfully.
"I don't." Victor said. "She's the one I want you to fit some clothes for. Could you make it fast? She hasn't eaten in a couple of days." Angela looked at the seated woman and hmmmed thoughtfully. "Stand up dear. Let's see what we have to work with." Bell stood up. "My goodness! She's nearly your size Vic!" She took a thinking stance and put her hands on her hips. "You know if I have to start from scratch, it would take quite a while to make her some clothes." She looked a Victor. "I still have some of your clothes that I finished for you. If you really wouldn't mind, I can alter some of them for her. Just for the time being. I'll measure her and in about.....say....three days, we could have a fairly good wardrobe for her. Some nice night dresses too, if you are willing to pay extra." She grinned.
"Not a problem, I'm not strapped at the moment." Victor said smiling. "Hey Angie, have you seen Brad?"
"Brad Pitt, he was in here a few days ago." Bell thought, 'She knows Brad Pitt?!!! Wow!'
"No, not that Brad." Victor chuckled.
"Oh, him." Angela said sarcastically. "Yeah, I've seen him recently. He's staying over at Jake's Bar and Grill. Why anyone would stay there voluntarily when they're as rich as he is...well, it's beyond me." Angela said disapprovingly.
"He likes to rough it." Victor said laughing.
"Yeah, Jake's would be roughing it, alright." Angie said with a snobbish sneer.
"You know Brad Pitt?" Bell asked. Angie only hummmhummed.
"And his lovely wife too. I just love to design clothes for her, she just too cute. They're a nice couple. You don't find many nice couples in any business, much less show business." Bell turned to look at Victor.
"Don't look at me Bell, I never met them." Victor said handing Angie a mug of coffee. He did know how she liked it. "So you like your coffee, how?" Victor asked Bell.
"I like it with sugar and creamer, if there is any. Lots of creamer, if you don't mind." Bell said to Victor. Angie had just started to tape measure her and whistled every now and then at the measurements she was getting.
"Wow, Bell darling. You aren't that much smaller then Victor. I'll be able to get you into some of his clothes and give them a feminine touch to tone down the masculinity of Vic's clothes." She looked down at Bell's feet. "I think that a set of Vic's boots will be just a little big, but with a couple pairs of socks it should be a perfect fit." Angie said.
CHAPTER 5: JUST LIKE NEW
Angie was finished with Bell before her workers started to show up a few hours later. Bell's stomach groaned and moaned almost constantly since arriving at Angie's shop and she was too hungry to be embarrassed any more. As the three of them looked at Angie's handiwork, Bell's jaw dropped as she looked in the full length mirror. 'Was that her?!' She could not believe it. Erick's machine had turned her into another Victor, a lady Victor!
"You know, sweetie, you look like Vic's twin sister. Really you do." Angie said looking at her handiwork. "Don't worry, though, I will fem up the next set of clothes for you. I think I can even do a few pairs of shoes." She looked at Victor, and he nodded. "But I do think that high heels are out." Angie said with a grin.
"Yeah." Bell said somewhat sarcastically. "That almost goes without saying." She gave a rueful grin.
Victor and Angie conducted business, while Bell studied herself in the mirror. 'The new me,' she said quietly aloud. Angie had brushed and styled her hair a little and put some make-up on her to tone down her likeness of Victor. The resemblance was still there, but not so bold face striking now, for someone to think that she was a he.
After another half hour, Victor and Angie did some serious negotiations and Victor took the new and improved Bell to his favorite all you can eat 24 hour day place. The morning light shown in the diner and Bell spent the first few minutes just taking in the scents and sights of her new and improved abilities. She just couldn't get enough of the scent of bread and pastries baking. Many of the customers ordered the traditional pancake breakfasts and she decided to do that as well.
Victor decided on steak and eggs for the time being and had a good time watching Bell dig into her breakfast. Someone turned on the television to watch the news.
PART II
CHAPTER 6: THE MUTANT THAT GOT AWAY
Two days before Sabretooth and Bell where sitting in the diner, he was tracking down the mutant that Erick wanted. He tracked her to a small hamlet in Canada.
The girl got down out of the huge rig and turned to the truck driver. "I thought you were takin' me to Laughlin City." The driver gave her a sad smile and closed and locked the door.
"This is Laughlin City." He walked away and she looked around. It looked like every other little frontier town she had been passing thru these last days. She was hungry, tired and she had no money. She went into a bar and was immediately assaulted by smoke, yells, and the harsh smell of beer and other alcohols. She slowly walked over to what looked like a large cage, and saw two men dragging a prone man from it. In the cage was two other men, one with a microphone and the other had his back to her. He was shirtless and had a very muscular back. He had dark hair, and he kicked back what looked like scotch whiskey like it was water. He took a long puff from a cigar and it looked like he was chewing gum as well.
"Gentlemen, in all my years, I've never seen anything like this. Are you going to let this man walk away with all your money?!!" The man with the mike said. There was a chorus of noooo's!!! from the crowd. One large man with a beard, wearing a black t-shirt with a fierce looking dog on it and tan khaki pants got to his feet.
"I'll fight him!!" And he was cheered by the crowd. He walked down from the stands and took off his jacket and entered the cage with confidence.
"Our savior!" The announcer called out. He covered the mike with a hand and said lowly to the new arrival. "Whatever you do, don't hit him in the balls."
"I thought it was anything goes."
"It is, but he'll take it personal." The announcer said and left the cage and closed the door. The new arrival instantly attacked the bare-chested man and threw him against the cage with savage hits the man hit the floor of the cage and t-shirt and began to attack him with a series of kicks, before his opponent could retaliate. The man keep kicking and kicking and then kicked him where he shouldn't have.
"You idiot!" Called one of the members of the audience. The girl saw the down man get up with the most determined and angry looks on his face, and faced his attacker. The black t-shirted man threw a punch and the now standing opponent met fist with fist. The larger man screamed and grabbed his hand as if he had hit a brick wall instead of flesh and bone. The girl gasped as the fight was over before she knew it. The man had only hit his opponent twice and he head butted the other and the big bearded man with the mad dog t-shirt was out spread-eagle on the floor of the cage. The winner growled cracked his neck and kicked his sleeping opponent and went back to his corner for another drink and smoke and leaned against the cage while the announcer interrupted the boos and jeers of the crowd.
"Ladies and gentleman, tonight's winner and still king of the cage.....The Wolverine!!" He said with great aplomb. The girl was astonished. How could he possible do that?
After a few hours later the girl found herself sitting at the bar staring at the TV and a jar of tips. The man from the cage came in and order a beer and sat down smoking his cigar staring at the TV as well listening to the announce talk about the up coming summit. Every on and then he stole a look at the girl in the cloak at the bar. Her scent was almost familiar. He was startled at how beautiful she was and young. Probably a runaway and broke as well. He could hear her stomach growl even from where he was sitting. The loser from the cage came up and tried to start a fight with him saying that he knew what he was and that he owed him some money. The loser pulled a knife and he heard the girl scream, "Look out!!" With years of practice and quickness that he had the man was quickly disarmed and Wolverine found himself pulling his claws on the man. He should have held his temper and not popped his claws. The barkeep pulled a large shotgun from under the bar and held it up against his head. The Wolverine only growled and sliced the gun in half. After listening to some insults, he huffed straightened out his jacket and retrieved his cigar and stalked out of the bar.
Early in the morning the Wolverine got into his truck and began his long trip to another town for another fight. After driving a while he noticed that something wasn't entirely right about the trailer. He stopped got out and saw that his tarp had an unusual bump that wasn't there before. He thumped it. The tarp rose out of the trailer and the girl emerged from it.
"I'm sorry, I needed a ride, and I thought you would help me." She said with a southern accent. He caught the familiar scent again. She was family. He wasn't quite sure how closely or how she was related to him, but the unmistakable scent was hard to miss now with only the fresh mountain air tinged only with snow and trees, instead of smoke, men and booze. If she wanted a ride and some help he was under obligation to assist her any way her could.
"You know kid, if you wanted a ride. All you had to do was ask. You enjoy riding in a freezing windy trailer do you?" He smiled kindly at her. She was taken somewhat aback. Is this the same man? He voice was gentle and kind and he didn't seem so fierce now.
"I wasn't sure, I mean....." She couldn't finish her sentence. He shook his head. He knew what her problem was it was like most people, she wasn't sure of what to make of him now that he wasn't the cage fighter Wolverine. He held out his hand to her and helped her out of the trailer. "Thank you." She said in that wonderful voice and smooth accent. He smiled.
"Don't forget your bag, darlin. Come on the truck is at least warmer then the trailer." She grinned at him a practically jogged to the truck. The truck had obviously seen better days, but the camper was in better shape and it had a hominess about it that was pleasant. She climbed in and put her bag in the back of the truck and looked at the traveling home that the Wolverine had.
"Kinda nice." She said and smiled at him.
"Thanks," He said and watched her take off her gloves and rub her hands trying to warm them. He turned up the heat and tried to move her hands to the heater vent. She jerked away and gave him a stern look.
"I wasn't going to hurt you kid." He said softly.
"It's not that. It's just when someone touches my skin, they get hurt." The Wolverine raised his eyebrows and thought 'Whoa!'
"Fair enough."
"You got anything to eat?" The girl asked. The Wolverine reached over and opened his glove compartment and handed her some fruit roll ups that he like to carry around for energy. She attacked the packet and ripped it open and devoured the dried fruit like it was a feast. He watched her and thought I really need to get her more food. She's starving. After eating the fruit she pulled down her hood and looked at him and said.
"I'm Rogue." She looked at the driver expecting something in return.
"What kind of a name is Rogue?" He asked her.
"What kind of a name is Wolverine?" She asked back.
"Logan. My name is Logan."
"Marie."
They drove in silence for a while then she said, "Don't you think you should do your seat belt?"
"Hey, I don't need auto safety lessons from a gir-----" And suddenly the truck came to an abrupt stop. Logan went flying threw the windshield and slide many yards in the snow. As far as Marie knew, Logan was dead. She struggled to get out of the seat belt and she smelt smoke. The propane tank wiring had started a fire and it started spreading thru out the truck bed with his belongings catching fire. She looked out of the windshield and saw Logan get to his feet and noticed that he was somewhat unsteady but alive and standing, wiping his forehead. He staggered over towards the truck, and Marie watched in fascination as his forehead closed up almost instantly. He looked at her with concern.
"Ya all right kid?" He asked. She just stared at him bewildered. "Are you hurt?" She seemed to come to her senses.
"I'm stuck!" She shouted and tried to pull her seatbelt out of its floorboard buckle. He started going towards the truck again and then stopped. She saw him flare his nostrils. He turned his head.
"Hey Vic! What are you doing here?" He called as a huge man charge out of the woods roaring. He attacked Logan with the swiftness of a lion on a zebra. Logan was unprepared for the attack. He didn't expect his query to be answered with an all out attack. "What? I paid you the money I borrowed from you!" Logan said tumbling to the snow and getting to his feet. Suddenly six metal blades came out of his hands. Vic attacked again but Logan was ready and dodged it.
"It's nothing personal, James....Just business." Vic said, plying his attack against Logan.
"Don't tell me you're working for some of the losers that I fought. None of them have the kind of money you charge." He heard Victor chuckle.
"Too true, Jamie, too true, and this is not about you." And the battle continued for some hair-raising moments for Marie as she watched the huge man and her new friend went at it. She was certain that the crowd of last night had not seen such a fight before and would probably pay good money to see what she was seeing now. What bothered her was the fact that they seem to know each other. She saw Logan get thrown into a tree with a great deal of force and he fell to the snow with a thud. He looked up dazed at Victor who had approached him carrying a tree trunk. "Sorry about this James, but like I said....It's just business, nothing personal." The large man swung the tree trunk like a baseball bat and Logan went flying... landing on the hood of his truck, unconscious. His claws retracted quickly. Victor put down the trunk and started to walk towards the truck when his momentum was stopped by a huge wind blowing against him with a snowstorm in his face forcing him to bring up his arms to protect his eyes. He saw two people, a man and a woman standing across from him. The woman seemed to be making the wind blow harder and the snow fall his way. The man reached up to his face and pushed a button on his goggles that covered his eyes, a bright red light shot out of it and hit Victor squarely on the chest.
He flew over into the trees and landed against them and fell to the snow and landed on his feet. The man was going to shot again, but Victor dodged it. They continued the light fight for a bit and Victor was finally defeated. He had to leave. The woman opened the door of the truck and the man used the red light to cut the seatbelt strap that was trapping Marie in her seat. The woman offered Marie her hand and she took it with no hesitation. The man in the red goggles grabbed Logan off of the truck and threw him to safety and covered Logan's head as his truck exploded in a great ball of fire.
CHAPTER 7: FAMILY REUNION
Logan was waking up and found himself lying on a hard platform in a large room that smelled like medicine. He caught the scent of a woman that was standing next to him. What was going on? She had a familiar scent about her as well. Just like it to be one of those days. Don't see any relatives in almost two decades and suddenly without warning they were everywhere. Rose....she smelled like Rose. He kept his eyes shut and laid still and waited for something to happen. She felt his hands and took him gently by the arm. She pressed a syringe needle against the inside of his elbow. He reached up and grabbed her by the arm.
"Don't you ever ask for permission to take blood from a patient, darlin?" He sat up quickly that surprised her.
"I'm sorry; I thought you were still out. Do you want to release my arm, please?" His eyes bored into her own eyes and his eyebrow rose to an incredible arc.
"Are you Jennifer Grey's daughter? You have that look about you." He said stating a fact instead of asking a question.
"You know my mother?!" She asked with great surprise.
"Yes. You must be Jeannie. I should have realized that you would become a doctor. You are a doctor aren't you?" He smiled. He took her breath away; he was so masculine and handsome, she felt a connection to him right then. He chuckled. "Down darlin'. We're family." He smiled and got off of the examining table. "You got some clothes for me, Jeanne?" He turned to her waiting for an answer. When she didn't answer him he continued to talk. "So where am I? And what happened to my truck. Is the Marie alright?" He asked that question with more urgency. Jean shook her head to clear it from the confusion that this man who she had never met, that claimed that he was family; was now asking her with no fanfare what happened while he was out.
"Uh, well, you're in New York, your truck blew up and Marie is in here in class right now." Jean said recovering.
"Class, New York? How did I get to New York, and how long was I out for?" He asked Jean. He stared at her, how was it possible that she looked just like Rose? Hell, she even smelled like her. Jean was wearing her red hair in a bun like Rose used to. He swallowed, it had been awhile since he thought of her even; and there she was standing in front of him....Or at least in a strong resemblance...very strong.
"Yes, well this is a school and we're in Westchester, New York and you've been out since my fiancé and a friend brought you and the girl here by jet." Jean Grey explained. "It's morning. Hungry?" She asked.
"Yeah, but some clothes please. Was anything salvaged from the truck?" He looked at her and she kind of had a 'not likely' look on her face that answered that. "Damn, you mean I lost everything? Even my bike?! Oh man, is he gonna pay for that!!" The man growled. Jean laughed a little at that. "Not funny, darlin'. That bike was a classic, had it for years."
"Yes my fiancé has a bike he's rather fond of so I know how you are feeling."
"You an empath?" He asked.
"I'm a telekinetic and slightly telepathic." Jean said.
"Well at least that's consistent of the talents that run in the family."
"I don't even know your name except that Rogue says that you told her it was Logan. And I never even heard of a Logan in my family." Jean said a bit put off.
"That's because I went by another name then. You'd be surprised how many names I've had over the years, and how long I've been around." He smirked. "Odds are you have heard of me."
"Oh, really." She was becoming somewhat angry at him. His whole demeanor was getting under her skin.
"Really. Let's see if I can remember my original name, hmm let's see. Oh yes now I remember. James Howlett. That was my birth name." He was pleased to see Jean's eyes widen and her jaw drop open. He chuckled. "Oh, you have heard of me then?" He smiled at her. Her mouth worked but nothing came out. She suddenly realized who was standing there before her. She had heard stories of the adventure James. James that went to war and rode with the Rough Riders, the soldier that won medals after medals for acts of heroic proportion, James her great-grandfather who was her favorite grandmother's husband. Her great grandfather....standing in front of her looking like he was in his early thirties!!!
"Oh my god!!! You really can't be him!! You just can't!" She exclaimed. He cocked his head at her.
"Why not?" He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"But you'd be ancient! You look almost as young as I am!"
"Healing factor, my dear, a very good healing factor. So are you going to get me some clothes or am I going to have to run around practically naked." He smiled at her.
CHAPTER 8: CATCHING UP
Jean could only stare at him in muted awe. She never expected to meet the man her beloved Grandma Rose told her so much about. Logan waved a hand in front of her. "Earth to Jeanne, yo! You there?" He continued to wave his large hand in her face and he whistled. She seemed to come out of her daze.
"Oh, yeah, ah right then. The girls washed the clothes that you were wearing and I patched the shirt up for you." She went over to a cabinet and took out his freshly laundered jeans and top and jacket. "I got you some new socks, the others were rags. She said handing him his boots with a pair of brand new socks.
"I have been meaning to get new ones, just haven't gotten around to it yet." He didn't seem to be a bit embarrassed at all by anything. He took his clothes and boots and looked at her. "You got a bathroom in this place, or what?"
"Oh, just over there, ummm. What do I call you?" It was a dilemma, here he was a real live ancestor of hers and she really didn't know how to handle it. She thought maybe he could be conning her, but he knew who she was and who her family was, and he had arrived basically dead to the world.
"Thanks, darlin', and you can call me Logan. That's what I'm going by this decade at any rate." He smiled, and she found herself understanding the fondness that Grandma Rose had spoken of him and why. He was a charmer.
A little bit later after he had gotten dressed, Jean led him thru the school towards the Professor's office. Logan looked around him in interest and seemed as if he was memorizing the layout of the school. He quickly got out of the middle of the hall to stand next to the wall, and Jean was bewildered until a herd of boys thundered down the hall talking loudly.
"How did you know they were coming?" Jean asked.
"Heightened senses dear; hearing, smell, eyesight, taste. All heightened to a very fine edge. If you want I can tell you what they are talking about. If you're interested." He smiled.
"No, not really. I believe you." Jean led him to a door that looked like the wood paneling of the wall, very chic. Jean opened the door and walked in without even knocking. Logan saw a bald man in what appeared to be in his sixties behind a desk with kids of varying ages in a circle around the desk. He was giving some last instructions to them. A chalkboard had a complex problem on it that looked vaguely familiar on it. Logan quickly solved it in his head. The children filed by him giving him curious glances. One young girl had left her purse behind and she retrieved it and then trotted out thru the door. The odd thing about that was the door was closed.
"Whoa! I guess she would hard to ground, huh?" Logan joked.
"Good morning Logan. Would you like some breakfast?"
"That sounds good. You cook too, along with teaching physics?" Logan smiled. The man wheeled his chair around the desk; Logan could see that it was as motorized wheelchair.
"Actually we have several cooks here at the school." The Professor smiled. "I'm Professor Charles Xavier. Welcome to my school for Gifted Youngsters."
"Gifted? Yeah, I noticed. I sure could have used this school with my last set of kids. Let me tell you...they were a handful. So, why did you bring me here?"
"The mutant that attacked you is named Sabretooth, and he is an associate of a very powerful mutant named Magneto." The Professor went on to explain.
"Sabretooth?! Ha! Is that what he's calling himself these days! Who would have guessed he'd have such an appropriate name."
"You know Sabretooth?" Jean asked, surprised.
"Oh, yes for a very long time now." Logan stated simply. "What's a Magneto?" Logan asked to get back on track. He was curious as to why Vic would attack him.
"Magneto is a very powerful mutant that felels a war is brewing between mutants and the rest of humanity."
"This Magneto, does he have a regular name?" Logan asked, but he had his suspicions.
"His name is Erick Lehnsherr." The Professor said.
"Yeah, that kind jof tickles my memories a bit. Let me think a moment or two." It looked as if he had gone into a mediational trance.
FLASHBACK:
Logan is back in a large plane sitting nest to two other men while and officer of Special Forces is briefing them on there mission. "Alright boys, this is a very fast rescue operation." He said to the men sitting on the bench.
"How fast?" asked Logan, cautiously.
"The plane is going to fly very low over the target and you are jumping out of the plane...without parachutes."
"Hot damn!" Exclaimed the big man sitting next to Logan. "Now that's fast. Sounds like fun!" He said laughting.
"I'm so glad you're having fun." Logan said sarcastically. Then he grinned at the big guy. The third man chuckled softly. The officer doing the briefing, rolled his eyes
"We coming up on the target, sir!" A loud voice came from the cockpit.
"Alright men, get ready" The officer said motioning them to the open hatch.
"I was born ready!" The big man said, standing up.
"Really? I never heard our parents mention that once." Logan grinned.
"That's because you were always sick, little brother." The big guy thumped Logan on the back and nearly pushed him out of the hatch.
"Hey! Watch it, Bub!!"
"Alright you two, behave yourselves." Said the third man quietly and the big older brother immediately calmed down.
"Sorry little brother. So shall we hunt some German's"
"Yes let's!" Shouted the team as one.
"Time to go, go, go!!!" Shouted the officer and the three men jumped out of the plane and into the German's compound. Two of them landed on the roof of one the offces and crashed threw, the third, the large brother landed on two high ranking officers.
The two German officers were immediately knocked unconscious. But the large man thanked them anyway for the soft landing. Laughing he charged at the men that were becoming aware that the compound was being invaded. The big man continued to laugh as he dodged bullets and raced over and knocked the guards into the wall of the building with very little fuss. Logan chuckled as he saw his brother charge at least a company of eight men and didn't even stop to take out his gun. Logan and his companion broke into a sturdy building and addressed the huddled group of men, women and children that were held there.
"Everyone, I think it's time to leave." Logan said in English and the in German. The prisoners came to life shortly and raced out of the building, a young boy seemed unable to, he had a bad injury to his leg. Logan picked the boy up and slung him over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. "Hang on there kid, we are leaving this place!" Logan said and his compain burst threw the Germans like linebackers in a football game. Several German soliders threw some hand grenades at them. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the boy wave a hand and the grenades returned to the soldiers that threw them. All of the prisoners were getting to the gate without injury thanks to Logan's brother and the third man. They finally reached the gate as infantry pulled up and took over for the trio, much to Logan's brother's chagrin.
It took only a few minutes for the compound to be secured by the Allies. The former prisoners were being helped into a large truck. Logan put the boy he was carrying carefully in the truck.
"That's a neat trick you got there son. What's your name, kid?" Logan asked the boy.
"Erick, Erick Lehnsherr." The boy said smiling at his rescuer.
"Yeah, I know who you are talking about." Logan said. Xavier bieng a telepath saw Logan's little flashback and nodded.
"You also go by the name of James, or Jim, don't you?" The Professor asked.
"Used to, well, off and on. Sometimes ya just have to keep it fresh. Besides, people start getting suspicious when the same name keeps cropping up over so many years."
"Yes, I would supposed that would be true." The door opened and one of the most beautiful women that Logan had ever seen, walked gracefully into the room. She had white hair and most wonderful carmel colored skin. He was instantly taken with her. She had a scent that tickled his nose enticingly. A tall skinny young man was following her; he was wearing dark ruby colored sunglass and a dark outfit and was grinning at Jean engagingly. Jean smiled back at him. Logan caught the scent of attraction from them both. He cocked an eyebrow at the man and wondered if he was worthy of his great granddaughter.
"Allow me to introduce some of our teachers here." The Professor said. "This is Ororo Munroe, also called Storm, and Scott Summers, also called Cyclops." The Professor introduced them respectively.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr...." Ororo said.
"Logan, my dear, call me Logan...no mister." Logan took the woman's hand and kissed it speaking in a calm gentle language, not English. Ororo was taken aback. She answered back in the same language, and they conversed for sometime, until Jean said.
"Uh, excuse me? But could you two speak in a language everybody understands?"
"Oh, sorry Jean, it's just been so long since I've spoken my mother tongue." She looked at Logan. "How did you know? Are you telepathic?" He chuckled at her.
"Well, no I'm not. Your name and your accent gave you away. I speak a lot of different languages and I can write in most of them." He went on to explain.
"It sounds as if you would make a great teacher," Said the Professor.
"He would and has been, and there are few subjects he couldn't teach. If there were, he would soon learn them." Said a new voice coming from the door, it was a woman dressed in a grey pant suit. Logan could have kicked himself for not smelling her. He was so focused on Ororo that he didn't even hear or smell her coming.
"Raven!!!" Logan joyfully shouted and rushed over to her and picked her up and whirled her around.
"James you big lug! Put me down this instant!" Sh said happily belying her stern words.
"I assume you two know each other?" The Professor said smiling.
"No, not really....ouch!" Raven had deliever a sharp swat to Logan's arm when he said 'not really'. Everyone laughed and even Logan gave a rueful grin. "I'm usually a gentleman, so I won't tell you precisely how long I've know her. It's not polite to tell on a woman, especially her age." Rave gave him a sour look. Logan rubbed his arm where she had swatted him. "Come on Raven, can't you take a joke?"
"Not at my expense, James." She said in a teacherly tone.
"Call me Logan, Raven." He smiled at her and took a deep sniff. Something was bothering her...he could tell. She smelled sad, and worried. "Listen Raven, dear. We need to talk." He said in a low voice. She nodded.
"Well, it's nice seeing you again. But I have a class to teach." Raven said loftily. Logan rolled his eyes. She didn't seem like the Raven he remembered. But it had been quite some time since they've seen each other. No telling what's beeen happening in her life. He'd have to talk to her alone, later. He watched her walk away. Even her walk conveyed something was really wrong and he looked at her closely.
"I should ask about seeing Marie. But Jeanne said she was in class, so I guess I don't really have to worry about her too much."
"She taking history, that's my class, and I really should be getting back to it. No telling what is going on in my absence." Ororo said smiling. It took his beath away. Damn, if he wasn't in love again.
CHAPTER 9: THE SOB STORY
Professor Charles Xavier took Logan on the grand tour of the school, showing him everything and explaining exactly what he was trying to accomplish. The final part of the tour was the hanger, where the Professor explained how when as a teenager he learned about his telepathy, and when he met Magneto.
"Convinced that mankind would never accept mutants, he became angry, resentful....He became Magneto." He turned to Logan. Logan was looking around him at the extensive hanger and its advanced equipment and wonderful jet.
"That's a shame. He seemed like a really nice kid when I met him all those years ago. But if I've learned anything...time..events...change everything. Pity." Logan walked over to the jet and put a reverant hand on it. "Mack Gifford...this was designed by Mack Gifford. Yeah, I'd know his work anywhere." Logan said smiling.
"That's right. When he was laid off by the government's new budget cuts, I snapped him up and gave him everything he needed and he went all out in his designs; and got the best workers, electronics people he could find. It's as advanced as anything that the government has, if not more."
"Oh, I bet Mack loved that!" Logan laughed. "Free rein, that is what he likes and works best at, but the government folks didn't see that. You know, I've been around the world and have done many things, but one thing remains consistent. All governments are populated by simple, narrow minded people with no vision at all. If they show any talent or promise they are instantly culled." Logan shook his head. Despite his someber mood, the Professor chuckled.
"All too true, Logan, my friend, all too true." The Professor said shaking his head. He looked at Logan and they shared some quiet time together. "Logan, isn't fifteen years of roaming the wilds of Canada and getting into those cage fights enough to purge your anger and grief?" Logan shot the Professor a hard look. He frowned. He rattled the question in his head awhile and looked at the man in the wheelchair.
'Wasn't fifteen years enough? Logan said to himself, he thought of the beautiful white haired Ororo and smiled. "Yeah, you're right. What are you asking?" Logan said quietly.
"For you to stay here, and teach, Logan...become one of us. Surely all that time alone is enough for you." The Professor said.
"Become one of you." Repeated Logan, barely above a whisper. Most of his decisions have been made spur of the moment, and why not another? "I'll tell you what, why don't I think on it and take care of a problem that seems to have come up and I'll make my decision then...Wheels." He smiled at the Professor mischievously.
"Fair enough, Wolverine." The Professor smiled at Logan.
"Okay, no more entering without knocking, capeshe'?" Logan said with mock severity.
"Understood." The Professor said, and Logan heard 'knock, knock,' in his head. Logan shook his head.
"Kids." He muttered and left the room with Professor Xavier rolling behind him chuckling. It had been a long time since he'd been callled a kid. He wasn't sure how old Wolverine, aka Logan was, but re really didn't want to know.
Having memorized the layout of the school, Logan was now free to roam the school unescorted. He found the kitchen no problem. It wasn't as large as the thought it should be for a mansion, made into a school. It was probably the living quarter's kitchen. The main kitchen was probably in another section of the school. All he had to do was follow his nose.
He opened the fridge and the cabinets. Rabbit food and health food litter both the fridge and cabinets. "Is there any meat in this fridge?"
"Actually very little, Ororo is mainly fruit and vegetables." Raven said, coming up from behind. "I see you have a thing for her already." Raven smiled. "Why don't I make you something to eat, since I know where everything is? You can fly, drive any vehicle; speak more languages then an UN interpreter; there isn't a marshal art you don't know; and a weapon you can't use....But...I bet you still can't cook." She actually giggled.
"Oh, quit tittering at me Raven!" Raven burst out laughing. 'That's much better.' Logan thought. But her scent didn't change all that much. "Fine, fix me something to eat, that way the kitchen doesn't get burned beyond repair. Well except when I make chili," He grinned.
"True." Raven said. She began to rummage thru the kitchen for breakfast makings. Logan sat down at the table. Raven gave Logan a mug of coffee. The pot was always kept on and coffee brewed.
She settled on making him the usual breakfast, eggs, bacon, toast. It wasn't such a big deal and it took very little time. She knew he was dying to question her. Feeding him would distract him long enough for her to think on how to tell him her story, but not inside the mansion.
Later after Logan had eaten his breakfast, Raven escorted him outside to a pleasant garden area where there were some comfortable lawn furnishings. Logan settled himself in a chair and sat back. He took out a cigar, and Raven stifled a sigh.
"Before you light up, would you be a dear and look and listen and smell the area for me please?" Raven asked politely. Logan raised his expressive eyebrow at her. "I want to make sure that there are no students listening in on us. This school has the best gossip speading newsline I've ever seen. This story is not for them to hear or spread aroud."
Logan nodded and cocked his head around and strained his hearing to the limits. He heard a group of boys playing basketball on the courts. He heard an angry voice saying, "Hey, no powers!" and the laughter that followed what appeared to be a basket. He chuckled, no powers, huh? Not very likely! His nose was working overtime and he could smell the vegetation and some aftermath of an outside picnic, probably yesterday's. But not the fresh scent of a person nearby except for Raven's delicate scent that still belied sadness...or was it regret.
"All clear Raven, so what's the story?" Logan asked. He waited patiently. He decided to keep a nose and ear out for intruders. Whatever she wanted to tell him was very serious.
"The story I'm going to tell you goes back a few years." Raven started after a deep breath. Logan nodded, although with them a few years could be more then most people's few years.
"As you know, my husband and I are not on the best of terms, oh, we tried to get our marriage going some 17 years ago....But there's something missing between us, and I believe our marriage is over. I sent him divorce papers two years ago and he hasn't signed them or sent them back to me yet. In fact it's been almost 17 years since I've seen him and 8 years since I've spoken with him." Raven said quietly.
"Seventeen years is a long time, even for us, to not see each other. You could have seen him at Monica's funeral. He was there, you could have spoken with him then." Logan interrupted.
"No, no I couldn't have. You see," Raven said and got abruptly to her feet. "I couldn't have gone to the funeral...I'm sorry Logan, you know, for your loss. You shouldn't have had to bury her so soon." She said with great regret in her voice.
"Yeah." Logan whispered. "Why couldn't you?" He asked curious.
"Because I was having problems that were to much for me, and to share them with you at that time. You were having your own problems. Grief is not something that is easily handled by itself. My problem was too much...even for me." She sighed and a tear rolled down her beautiful face smearing her make-up. Logan stood up and walked over to her.
"Whatever it is, you can tell me. I'd offer you a hanky, but I don't have one." She found herself laughing thru her tears. "That's more like it. Finish the story, Raven. And don't leave out anything. Can't help ya if ya do." Logan said smiling. "Come and sit back down." She nodded and sat back down in her chair.
"It all started about 18 years ago. That's when Erick basically started up his plan to um, to make normal humans see mutants for being superior...above them. Charles sees us as something different from them, not better. At first Erick's arguments sound alright, but after awhile I got to see a different side to him that he didn't show many people back then. He's not very subtle anymore. He scared me so I left him. He threatened to get back at me for my betrayal." She stopped to take a jagged breath.
"There's more, isn't there?" Logan asked.
"Yes, there's more. Remember when I said my husband and I tried to get back together?" Logan nodded. He didn't like the way it was going. "Well, after our brief time at trying to be married again, I found out that I was pregnant." Nope, didn't like where this was going at all. "I didn't tell him because I was certain the marriage was over and Erick was starting to make threats against me." Raven said. "Don't look at me like that. I was afraid for him, honest." Raven said firmly.
"I believe you Raven, but I'm not sure he will." Logan said.
"Yes, well you're probably right about that, anyway I had the child. I kept her for several years, and then Erick started tracking me down everywhere we went. I couldn't get away from him. He threatened to kill her." She saw Logan's face grow dark with anger. "I was putting her into too much danger. So I put her up for adoption. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. But to get her away from Erick, it was worth it. They were good people and they promised to take good care of her. I was almost certain she wouldn't become a mutant. But I guess I was mistaken. I have kept tabs on her thru the years and had not met her until....yesterday."
"Marie."
"Marie." Raven confirmed. "I can't believe that Erick would choose her to power his machine."
"What machine?"
"That machine he's been working on for the last ten years or so. It was just in planning stages when I was with him. He wants to turn norms into mutant so bad, it's not funny. I think Erick had finally gone over the edge." Raven said, fear in her voice. "I suppose he feels that it's karma that she's my daughter and he gets his revenge. The man is insane!"
"Wonderful." Logan said sarcastically. "And in using Vic to kidnap her... his revenge is twofold." Logan growled. He could not believe that this was happening. "I've got to find Vic and tell him everything." Logan said angrily. "Although I haven't a clue where to start to look for him."
"Ask Professor Xavier to find him for you. I'm sure he'll help you anyway he can."
"How's that possible? He's got a supercomputer or something?"
"Or something." Raven smiled sadly.
"You know, you're going to have to tell Marie. I doubt that it can remain a secret for long. If Erick finds a way to get to her, it would delight him no end to tell her as foullly as he can. I can't believe that this is the same Erick Lenhsherr. I just can't." Logan said sadly.
"Believe it. I wouldn't put anything past him. I doubt that Sabretooth knows the whole truth about his boss."
CHAPTER 10: TRACKING THE CAT
After hugging Raven and allowing her to cry on his shoulder for a little while, he went back into the mansion to talk to the Professor. He found the Professor watching the news in the TV room. He walked over to him and stood quietly for a few moments.
"She told you." The Professor said.
"Yeah, she did. I really need your help. I need to find Vic and I need to find him fast." Logan said.
"Very well, Logan. Come with me." The Proessor wheeled his chair around and they headed to the elevator that Logan had used only this morning. He took him to the lower levels and they arrrived at a large door with an enormous X on it. There was a blue round glass in the center. The Professor went up to it and stopped. A bright light come out from it and scanned his eye. After a few moments there was a loud click, the door opened and a female voice saying, "Welcome Professor." The Professor rolled forward.
"Follow me , Logan." Xavier commanded. As they enter the doorway lights began flicking and and they continued to move up what looked like a catwalk that stopped in the middle of a huge sphere.
"Whoa, big round room." Logan said surprised.
"Welcome to Cerebro, Logan."
"What's this room for, Wheels?' Logan asked.
"This is how I'm going to find Sabretooth. Cerebro enhances my telepathic abilites."
"So how come you haven't been able to find Magneto with this?"
"He has found a way to thwart Cerebro."
"How can he do that?"
"Well, he did help me built it." Xavier explained.
"Oh," Logan realized that with Erick's special affinity with metal he was probably very good with machines and electronics.
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No. Just don't move." The Professor said putting on some kind of helmet. The room started to get dark, and suddenly the planet earth plastered itself of the wall of the sphere, with bright white lights everywhere. "The white lights are regular human beings, while," as he was saying this the white lights turned a bright red; "the red lights are mutants. You see Logan; were aren't as alone as you might think." He concentrated harder. "Ah, there he is." The Professor said pleased.
"Where is he?" Logan asked urgently. "On the outsirks of New York City." The Professor proclaimed.
"New York City is a lot of ground to cover. But I think I'll be able to find him." Logan started thinking of all Vic's hangouts and his place of residence...that is if he still had it.
"Hmmm, that's odd." It would seem he's on an island off the coast. Probably something of Erick's making. I don't believe that there are any islands of that size offically in that position."
"Sheesh! Erick must have some power there." Logan said.
"He's one of the most powerful mutants on the planet, even at his age. And with your metal skeleton you would be helpless against him."
"Thanks for reminding me. I'll try to avoid him if I can. I just want to talk to Vic."
"Logan, you're not forgetting that he hit you with a tree are you?" The Professor said trying to hide a smile.
"Hardly. But just like he said....It wasn't personal...just business. I can't hold it against him. And Charley....no probing." Logan said tapping his forehead.
"I'll see about arranging some transportation for you. Maybe Scott will loan you his motorcycle....if we ask nicely."
CHAPTER 11: ON THE HUNT
After a while with a bit a frowning and mistrust, Cyclops reluctantly agree to loan his precious bike to Logan. With a smile and a kiss from Jean the deal was sealed. Cyclops could not deny Jean anything when she used both a smile and kiss. Jean and the Professor went back into the mansion leaving Logan and Scott alone in the garage.
Scott dug thru his pockets and brought out some keys, he reached up and grabbed a helmet off a shelf and put the keys inside of it and tossed it to Logan.
"Here. If you are going to be riding my bike...you are wearing a helmet." Scott stated as Logan caught the helmet with ease.
"I really don't need a helmet." Logan said smiling.
"Yes you do. One it's the law and another it's my bike, if you don't it's no deal. Besides the visor will keep the bugs out of your eyes and off your teeth." Logan wouldn't say it out loud but he was inpressed that Scott was not intimated by him. "Oh, there's a little extra thing I added to the bike. Just in case you need it. See that silver button?"
"Yeah."
"If you want a little extra speed, just push it." Logan felt like Scott had a wicked gleam in his eye, even behind the visor. Logan thought he was mistaken, because the feeling went as soon as it came.
"Okay. Thanks. I'll try to bring it back in one piece." Logan said grinning wickedly.
"Good, and don't forget to fill it up before returning it." Scott nodded. "And another thing, not to mean I like you, but be careful...Sabretooth is no slouch." Scott said with a warning.
"I'll try to remember that." Logan gave him a rakish grin, took the keys out of the helment; put it on and inserted the key and turned on the bike. He smiled broadly when he heard it start up. It looked powerful just sitting there, but running he knew it was, he reved it up, put the kickstand up and before Scott could say good-bye...Logan was riding out of the garge and out of the gate.
"Good luck, Wolverine. You're going to need it." Scott Summers said out loud in the garage.
Ah, this was the life, Logan thought as he rolled on the road with the wind whistling in his ears and the bike rumbling under him. He really liked this bike. When he got his hands on Victor, he was gonna make him buy him a new bike...Just like this one; maybe just a bit better.
After about three or four hours of steady traveling, Logan need to take a break from riding and get something to eat. He stopped at one of the truck stops and walked in. Being hungry, it takes not much to get his juices flowing with his enhanced sense of smell. He walked over to a booth and sat down. A waitress, a young one, probably with his luck her first day on the job, came over with a menu.
"Good day sir, may I get you something?"
"Some coffee to start and I'll have a look at that menu. What's today's special?" Logan asked.
"Pork chops, mashed potatoes with gravy and peas, with steakhouse rolls." The waitress said with practice. Logan frown a bit and thought about it.
"Sounds good sweetie, why don't you get me one of the specials then." Logan smiled at the her and she flushed a bit and took the menu back.
"Yes sir. I'll bring you your coffee in a moment." She returned to the pass thru to the kitchen and clipped his order slip to the rotating rack with the others.
Logan spent some quiet, pleasant moments just sitting and watching the other patrons and the trucks and cars come and go.
All that came to a screeching halt when he heard what sounded like his waitress screaming.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: How this following scene came about I don't know, didn't plan it. I just wanted Logan to stop for a bite and a map, and flirt with a waitress or two. I guess he can't help himself...got to go help a damsel in distress.
"Let me go you big jerk!" Gruff male voices were laughing at her, and Logan's blood started to boil. He dropped his head almost to his table. 'Why did the other members of his gender have to be such barbarians?' He stood up and followed the sound of the scuffle.
Sure enough there was a group of unkempt men sitting around a table and one of them had the young waitress in a tight grip, holding her on his lap as she struggled to get free.
"Aw come on honey, you know you want me. I'm a real man."
"Real men don't maul the ladies, BUB!" Logan said dangerously.
"Oh look sweetie pie; it's your hero from table 10 or something." The big thug said mocking her sweetly.
"Let me go! Put me down!" She screamed angrily. The big thug stood up and kept a grip on her. He was huge. Almost as large as Vic was, but that wasn't necessarily an advantage.
"You heard the lady, put her down now." Logan said firmly. Big Thug tossed the waitress hard away and she fell heavily to the floor. Logan heard a snap coming from her arm and she screamed in pain and held her arm and howled. Oh, man! He did not mean for that to happen!
"You big jerk, you broke her arm." Logan growled at him.
"PFFFT, she's okay." Big Thug said scuffing.
"No she's not. And you need to leave here now. I doubt very seriously that the owner or manager likes customers that injure his waitresses. Logan said. He could see that several of the truck stop employees had already gone over to the down waitress. What looked like the manager told one waitress to call 911 and the police. Big Thug probably didn't hear that, but Logan did.
"Like I said." Logan said much louder. "You need to leave now. You've caused enough damage for the day." The group of rowdies didn't even blink, they were not afraid of one lone man. Logan sighed. He had dealt with this kind all his life and they just kept springing up. There seemed to be an unlimited supply of this species of bully. His heart's desire was to make this species extinct. They laughed and looked at each other.
"Is this guy stupid or what?" One of them asked the group.
"Yeah, ya sure look like it to me." Logan said spitefully. The laughing stopped. The restaruant got very quiet. The only sounds now was of the waitress crying, and gasping in pain.
"Man you just earned yourself a world of hurt.." Big Thug said. Why did they always have to say that? Logan just rolled his eyes.
"Get newer material, bub." Logan scuffed. That got the desired effect. Big Thug charged him, but Logan had been ready since the girl broke her arm. He decided that this guy was far too much trouble hale and hearty, so with swiftness and before the thug had a chance, Logan broke the guy's arm and kicked him in the knee which brought Big Thug down quickly and hard screaming in surprise and pain.
"Bet that didn't feel very good." Logan joked. He cocked his eyebrow at the remaining bullies and they seemed a bit reluctant to take him on. Verbal bullying was something else, but what this guy did to their friend in a matter of seconds was something different all together.
Sirens were heard in the background as a Highway Patrol car pulled up. "I believe that's your cue to leave, right boys?" Logan said precisely.