Later that day, their luck ran out. It was the perfect place for an ambush. The road narrowed with trees on both sides. The two cars blocked both sides of the road. Two more pulled in behind them as the road curved, cutting off their escape route. Logan knew he would survive but Kate could be seriously injured if they tried to break the road block. He stopped.
"Logan," she asked.
"Just cooperate," he told her. "Make sure you tell them the disc has been sent to a safe place. They won't kill you until they get the disc back. Don't tell them anything about me. I'll get you back out as soon as I can."
They were pulled from the car roughly. Logan recognized on of the men. The same guy from the motel. One of the guys had numerous scratches and bites on his face and hands. Logan got a warm, fuzzy from that.
"Watch out for the little guy," the man warned. "He's tougher than he looks."
"Good advice," Logan growled. He heard Kate squeak behind him and whirled around. A big man had her by the throat with a gun to her head.
"Settle down, hot shot," the man warned Logan. "You don't want the gun to go off."
"Logan," she said. "Don't do anything stupid."
'Pay attention to the lady, Logan." the man holding Kate said. "I do thank you for keeping her safe."
He reached down and cupped her breast. Logan gritted his teeth as Kate gasped and turned green.
"She any good Logan?" he asked. "She's probably a firebrand in bed. I'll have to find out."
The plan went out the window as Logan felt the rage rise.
"Leave her alone," he warned them.
"Kill him," the first man ordered.
Bullets flew hitting Logan at least sixteen times. The wounds were enough to kill a normal man. Logan knew he would be in bad shape for a few hours. He looked over at Kate, willing her to do what he said. Her eyes were filled with fear but she nodded. With that, Logan passed out.
When he awoke, he was in a pool of his own blood. He felt like someone was tap dancing on his head with cement boots. Every bone in his body ached. Bullets littered the ground as his body pushed them out and began the healing process.
(Logan) Jean's voice echoed in his head.
(Dammit Jean, that hurts.)
(Sorry), she sent a psychic balm to dull the pain in his head.
(We found Katherine Dempsey. You were right. Hank knows her.)
(Jean, darlin, she was kidnapped from my car about a hour ago. I need to know everything about BioGen. I'm pretty sure they are involved.)
(Are you alright Logan. I'm sensing some serious injuries.)
(Nothing permanent.)
(I'll have Scott send a team to help you.)
(No,) he told her (I'll get in faster and quieter without help. I sent a package to the school this morning. I need you to keep it safe until Kate and I can get to the school,)
(I'll keep my eyes open for it.)
(Don't try to read it. She probably has a booby trap in the file.)
(Be careful Logan.)
(Aw Jean, you know me.)
(Yes, I do.) she laughed and left his mind.
He got up off the road and got back into the car. First things first. He needed to find BioGen. Then payment comes due.
He headed to the next town and got a room at the seediest hotel in town. He placed a call to the mansion and talked with Charles and Hank. Both were impressed that he knew Theresa Dempsey's daughter.
"She was the premier soft ware designer of her time," Hank gushed. "I understand her daughter is an excellent designer, herself. I had her in a class almost twenty years ago; advanced genetics. She was very promising. I understand that private industry got a hold of her after she got her PhD. Too bad. She would have made a sterling teacher."
"Hank," Logan interrupted. "This is not a fan club. I need to know about BioGen. Where is it? How do I get in?"
"We're looking up the information, Logan," Xavier told him. "Are you sure you're up to this?"
"I'm fine," he lied.
"BioGen is about ten miles north of Seattle, Logan," Scott's voice came over the line. "I'm trying to access a floor plan from the fire department but it's slow going. We don't have a hacker any more."
"Ask one of the kids Scott. They're better at computers than we are." Logan instructed.
"I'm not going to ask a child to do something illegal." Scott said scandalized.
"A woman's life depends on finding a way into BioGen, Scott. Find the way, and I'll get her out."
"Do what he says Scott," Xavier told him. "Get into that data base. Jean and I will see if we can find her, Logan. Head for Seattle. Give me a call when you arrive."
"Will do," Logan replied. "Oh Charlie, one thing. Kate is human with precognitive powers. Watch how deep you go into her mind. Some of the visions she has are pretty bad."
"Precog, Logan?" Hank asked. "In a human?"
"I was kinda surprised myself. She knows what X factor is and knows she doesn't have it."
"Find her Logan." Xavier ordered him.
Logan hung up the phone. Lying back on the bed, he lit a cigar and took a deep drag. Blowing the smoke over his head he thought about what he needed to do. Kate could still get killed if he didn't keep his head. If the animal got out, Kate would die. Most likely by his own hand. Putting out his cigar, he rose and settled onto the floor. Taking deep breaths, he slipped into the safety of his own mind. The safe place in his Id was the cabin. It was different this time. Kate was part of the warmth he felt. He couldn't see her but he could smell and feel her there.
Hold on Kate, he thought. I'm commin fur ya.
He meditated for hours, loosing track of time. When sunshine brushed across his eyes, he got up, showered, dressed and left the room. He caught an early flight to Seattle paying extra for first class. No one bothered him on the flight which was fortunate for them. Meditation had not reduced the anger boiling through him.
Landing in Seattle, he grabbed his satchel and left the airport. He rented a car and headed north toward BioGen. He stopped at a hotel near the labs and called the school.
Scott came through for him. On of the new students has the power to make machines do whatever he wanted them to do. All he needed to do was ask the schools computer to get the information from the fire department computer. The fax was waiting for him when he checked into his room. Studying the floor plan, he traced his route to the high security lab in the basement. This was the most likely place for them to hold her. They could stand off an army from that location. Too bad for them he wasn't an army.