xXx

"Can he talk yet?" Bryant asked as he walked down the hall at a brisk pace.

"I think so," Banner said, "though he has chosen not to. His jaw is largely reformed, but he's missing some teeth and some tongue."

"Won't slow him down any," Bryant said. "He never was that articulate. Might drool a bit more. Here we are." He punched in his code, and the bulkhead opened. Bryant walked in; Banner stayed in the hall with the two soldiers.

"Hello, Victor," Bryant said to Creed. "How are you feeling."

"Bedder for my exercise," Creed said.

"We let you run it off this time," Bryant murmured sternly, "because you came to us as a predator, and Logan was involved. Understand this. You ever go awol again, and we'll nail your hide to the floor as a rug, and your head will be stuffed and mounted in my office like the trophy bag you are. We have Logan, and that changes things considerably. Also, your efforts netted us the furry blue fellow."

Bryant paused a moment, eyeing Creed. Up close, he was so big… "You'll be glad to know I've put the request through to the Uppers," he said. "If we can find out Logan's secret to survival, you will be the next test subject for the bone grafts."

Creed's grin was fearsome, perhaps more so for the jagged tooth stumps that were just starting to peek through bloodied patches of flesh gums.

xXx

Kurt wondered why they had put him in a cradle; the room slowly rocked back and forth, back and forth, in a most hypnotizing way. Later, he blinked and tried to shake his head; the room wasn't rocking, he was drugged. Some part of his mothballed brain told him the name of the sedative he was on, but he didn't listen because it didn't matter. His worst fear, to end up as a medical experiment, was coming true. What irony, he mused, to escape Belasco's threat and end up under the knife before he could enjoy it… He tried to move sideways, to drop into underspace, but he couldn't focus.

His capture was the worst fear of his masters, too; they could learn too much from him, even if he never said a word. Which he didn't plan to. Every creature has a limit, though.

The door opened, and Bryant strolled in. "So you are our mysterious infiltrator," he said. "I must admit the techs had a terrible time trying to wash your camo off before they realized it was your face. Personally, I think it will be delightful to shave you and see what color your skin is." He smiled.

Kurt said nothing.

"So do you speak English?" Bryant asked. "We have tests that will discover that soon enough." His smile broadened. "Lots and lots of tests. You'll enjoy it." He turned to go. "Get rested. Tomorrow we'll see what your scream sounds like." Then the door closed behind him.

Kurt scowled. Damn the drugs. Still, they would be sloppy. Then he would show them what he was capable of.

xXx

Logan looked up as his door opened. Creed walked in, ducking to get through the door. He stood and stared at Logan.

"Hiya, runt," he said.

Logan just looked him in the eye.

Creed shifted. "I hate to see you like this," he said. "I wouldn't mind if you were tore to bits and killed, but people like you and me, we shouldn't be trapped. It's embarrassing," he said, gesturing at the restraints.

Logan said nothing, his stare unwavering.

"I can't let you go because I need what they're gonna find out from you," Creed explained. "First I was gonna kill you; I owe you that at least, for all the good times we had tearin each other up. But I've been counterordered, and I can't do it if I want to get my own metal skeleton. So I just came in to check on you. Still here, I guess," he said, trying to make a joke.

Logan said nothing, his stare unwavering.

"I guess I'll be going then," Creed said. "Before I go, though, I need to know what you did with Lisa."

Logan's face darkened, and his vitals twitched higher on the monitor.

"I guess you didn't know," Creed grinned. "She was kinda sweet on me when she first came here." He leered. "I reminded her of home, I guess."

Logan growled, deep and ugly.

"We ran searches between here and where you were found, but can't seem to get a track. Your fuzzy pal teleports. He will crack and tell us everything. Thought I'd give you a chance to speak up first. For old times' sake."

"We had this conversation before," Logan said suddenly. "The first time I was here."

"Yeah," Creed said, his grin broadening. "Mystique. Whatta looker. You know, Bryant assigned her to education because she screwed up bringing you in. I guess some yahoo shot her in the leg. Now Logan, who would do such a downright miserable thing to that tasty woman?"

"She came back for me, way back when," Logan said, and he smiled too. His smile was not amused. "Maybe Lisa will too."

"Well, we'll just have to wait and see," Creed said. "Sleep tight. I'm off to bed. I get to brush my own teeth." He barked a laugh, and was gone.

xXx

Banner studied the monitor closely. There. In a matter of seconds, the blood cells changed with the pain threshold; anger galvanized the process somehow. Banner bent closer, watching as Logan's body almost hit rage; now, the change—

A gun cocked behind him. He was distracted from the view; the moment slid by and he missed it. He slowly stood and turned.

Lisa stood in the shadows, holding a heavy pistol; standard issue for the guards. "Doctor Banner, I've decided to fight," she said. "Will you be my hostage?"

"You're here to rescue the others?" he said. "How did you get in?"

"Beside the point," she murmured. "I'm here to rescue Logan and the Trespasser."

"I'm your hostage," Banner said simply.

It was not much longer before they had reached Logan's cell and opened it. His eyes widened in surprise to see her as she ran up to his containment unit and started studying the switches.

"Banner," she said quickly. "Shut this down or I'll shoot you, you know the drill."

"Right," he said, and he stepped over and started flipping switches. Logan felt the clamps release from his wrists, felt the system open up, the needles retract. He staggered forward. Lisa was watching the hall for interruptions.

"Didn't take much threatening to get your help here, doc," Logan muttered.

"Sure it did," he said, intent on his work. "She has a gun."

"Whatever," Logan sighed. "Good ta see you, darlin."

"Save it," she said. "I'm here to ask Bryant a question. You are just backup."

"No can do," he said. "Not without Kurt."

They looked at each other for a moment. "You've changed," she said.

He shrugged. "Had to."

She nodded. "We'll get Kurt. Banner?"

"Cell 4A," Banner said. He glanced out into the hallway and led them there. They peeked out before approaching the cell.

Two soldiers stood by the door. "Wait here," Banner said to Logan and the Swordbearer. He walked around the corner.

"Collecting samples," he mumbled, and he punched in the door code and walked in.

Logan glanced around the exposed hallway. "This aint no good," he said. He moved across the way and glanced through a doorway. He pulled the Swordbearer into the breakroom. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was 2 in the morning.

"Logan," the Swordbearer said. "I didn't thank you for your help with Belasco."

"I didn't ask you to," he said.

"Now I'm trapped between the poison on this world and Belasco beneath mine. I'm going to need help."

"That you are," he said. His eyes were sad as he looked at her. She seemed, for a moment, young and vulnerable again; she had perhaps bitten off more than she could chew, too soon. He sighed.

Banner poked his head into the dim room. "There you are. Gave me a start."

"Awful worried for a hostage," Logan drawled.

Banner shrugged. "They need me," he said. "They have the Tymaz Nine samples from you," he continued, nodding at the Swordbearer, "and we have all the samples of everything we could ever want from you," he added, nodding at Logan, "so I figure I'm the least expendable member of this rescue. I'm the only one that can put it all together."

"Let's get moving," Logan said. "I want to find Bryant and get this over with. Where's Kurt?"

"Is that the fuzzy man's name? I let him go, gave him an antidote to the drug, and returned his gear to him. Told him where we were going and gave him a few door codes. I think it's better that way, don't you?"

Logan nodded curtly. "He won't have trouble with the guards. They probably won't even see him."

"Let's go then," the Swordbearer said coolly, "before it's too late."

xXx

Bryant was ready for them when they arrived. Blast doors slammed down on either side of them, sealing the three in the hallway. The Swordbearer's eyes flared, and a disc of glowing energy wreathed in flame swept up from the floor, and another one slashed through the empty space near Bryant as poison gas pumped into the sealed hallway.

Bryant gasped, stumbling back. "Lisa?"

The soldiers with him cocked their weapons; heavy body armor, heavy machine guns. Logan grinned.

"You all open up with those cannons, the doc is gonna get creamed," Logan said.

Bryant found courage behind the soldiers. "Too bad," he shrugged. "Aiding and abetting and all."

"You need me," Banner said, indignant.

"You are replaceable," Bryant said. "You just never understood that. Fire."

He was a moment too late. Logan was moving. Heavy armor. He grinned, unsheathing his claws with the sound of a slit throat. Then he was among them, faster than they could pull the triggers. He slashed the barrel off a rifle, tucked his claws into a breastplate (but not too deep) so the soldier gurgled and clutched his chest as he fell. Logan knocked a barrel aside so the rifle blasted into another soldier's heavy armor.

Bryant drew his pistol, the silvered gun he had given to Lisa in the park. He lined up, waiting for an opening.

There was a peculiar muffled crack, and the stench of brimstone, then Bryant felt a slim blade at his throat as a hand slid up into his hair and jerked his head back in a single practiced motion.

"Call them off," whispered Trespasser.

"Gamma Six!" Bryant said desperately. The soldiers that could backed off, and Logan let them. He grinned at Trespasser.

"Glad you could make it," he said. He turned to Banner. "You are relieved of hostage duty."

"Thanks for making me feel less replaceable," Banner said to Logan. He looked at the Swordbearer for a long moment, then he turned and left.

"What's this all about?" Bryant asked, holding very still.

The Swordbearer stood before him, her pistol forgotten in her hand. "Did you give me Tymaz Nine?" she asked her voice hard. "Did you give me the disease so you could lure Logan in?"

"No, I swear," he said. "The story is true. When the ER sent out the query about the disease, the CIA picked it up and your name came to us. The rest was luck."

"Luck," she said. "Logan said Tymaz Nine was a KGB failsafe put on potentially dangerous enemies of the state. I was a little girl when I got it, according to you. That doesn't make sense. I've never been to the U.S.S.R."

"Are you sure?" Bryant asked, a glint in his eye. Kurt tightened the knife, and Bryant's brow creased in irritation. "Look, enough with the knife. The odds are in your favor here. Back off. You're going to need me. Right now soldiers are surrounding this location with enough firepower to take out a small country."

"They'll be too late," came a throaty growl from the shadows. Creed dropped from the ceiling and moved into full view, taking his time.

"Back or I kill him," Trespasser said. Creed shrugged.

"Whatever floats your boat," he grinned. "My business here is with Logan. Can't let you leave, shrimp."

The Swordbearer stepped forward. "You've got no choice, Creed."

"What, you gonna stop me, skirt?" he said. "Nice shooter."

She dropped the pistol. "I'll stop you, Creed."

He shook his head in amused disbelief. "Have it your way," he chuckled, and he sprang.

She was faster. A disc of energy tore out of thin air between them; airborne, it was too late for Creed to stop or change direction. She made it big enough for all of him to fit; he sailed through and vanished as the disc collapsed upon itself. Creed was gone.

The Trespasser chuckled. It was a frightening sound.

"What have you done with him?" Bryant shouted, turning a bit green.

"I will release him," she said, turning her lidded gaze on Bryant. "I will release him back to you when he has learned fear. When he has learned proper respect." She paused, and licked her lips. "It could take some time."

The doors blew apart in a shower of sparks and shrapnel; Bryant snatched Kurt's wrist and bent, moving; Kurt was startled. He flew over Bryant's shoulder, but he landed on his feet. Bryant was sprinting away, but one spring would put Kurt on his back.

"Come on!" Logan shouted. "Leave him!"

Bryant flopped down on his stomach as the troops opened up, firing over his body to keep them from approaching him. The Swordbearer opened a disc on either side of them; the bullets flew in one and out the other, spattering across the soldiers coming through the other doorway. Kurt and Logan leaped out of the line of fire, and the Swordbearer joined them. Her nose was bleeding with the strain.

"Too much too quick," Logan said. "Save some for getting us out of here."

"Can I guide you when we go?" Kurt asked. "We will need a helicopter."

She nodded wordlessly as the soldiers closed in; they came around the corner in time to see the three step backwards into the glowing portal.

xXx

They emerged in the hanger. As they ran for one of the helicopters, they saw Banner sprint into the room with two briefcases.

"Going somewhere?" the Swordbearer asked.

He stopped short, startled, then he sighed relief. "Yes," he said. "Actually. All the soldiers in the base are on the other side right now, after you lot. I thought I'd leave."

Logan looked at him hard. "There's more to it."

"You want Creed to have an adamantium skeleton? Or the Project to hold the secrets of Tymaz Nine?"

"Not the skeleton," Logan said, "But yes, I want somebody to have Tymaz Nine."

"I'm off to sell what we have so far," Banner said, raising the briefcases. "The rest will go with the lab. We haven't much time."

They needed no further encouragement.

Kurt and Logan headed for a helicopter when the Swordbearer stopped.

"This is as far as I go," she said. Banner climbed into a small bubble copter and started it up.

"What do you mean?" Logan asked.

"I'm no closer to the answer than I was," she said, frustrated. "Now I may never know."

"Darlin," Logan said, "that's why I've gone to the limits I've gone to. So I can know, and not wonder. But you know what? Sometimes, you just never do know. And you have to live with not knowin. That's part of bein an adult."

She stood with tears brimming in her eyes for a moment, and Logan saw she was on the edge of running to him.

Then, a slow disc of energy wreathed in flame slid up out of the floor. She raised her hand, bidding him goodbye, and then she was gone.

Logan stood, musing, for a moment.

Kurt had already circumvented the security on the chopper, and he started it up. Logan turned to see Kurt had chosen the biggest gunship, bristling with weapons and armor. He ran and jumped in. Something exploded with a dull thud in the underground complex; Kurt got the systems online and lifted off. He tore through the air towards the hanger door and swooped out just as the back wall of the hanger exploded with the chain reaction of the ruptured power generator deep underground.

"Circle around," Logan said with a grin, his hands and face pressed to the glass. "I want to watch."

"Afraid not," Kurt said ruefully. "You'll have to make do with this view. If any electrical disturbances make it out, we'd be grounded."

"Fair enough," Logan agreed as he saw a jet of flame up into the dark sky. "Fair enough." He sniffed; sniffed again. He reached under the seat and produced a box of cigars. Grinning, he got one out and bit off the end.

"You mind?" he asked Kurt. Kurt laughed.

"I am familiar with foul smoke, my friend," he said. "I do not mind."

Moments later, smoke puffed out of Logan's mouth. "That does ease the mind," he said. "So you picked us the best bird in the nest, huh."

Kurt glanced at him. "I view it as recompense for myself and my employers," he said. "It will be useful in times to come."

"I imagine," Logan said, leaning back. "You know, we saved her all those years ago. Now she saved us."

"I like to think that everything in life moves in circles," Kurt mused.

"Do we ever get anywhere?" Logan asked, drawing on his cigar.

"My friend," Kurt said, "a spiral viewed from above is a circle."

"That it is," Logan said. "That it is."

The chopper thudded into the night, over the still forest, and out of earshot.