Chapter 15


Dr. Michael Twoyoungman, a.k.a. Shaman, entered the bus a minute after the laughter and chatter from the two departing mutants had faded. Seeing both teammates sitting pensively he took a seat near Snowbird. He said, "He passed phase 2, and I'm just gearing up the data to transmit to Walter…"

Snowbird shook her head and sighed. She finished her cup of herbal tea, and watched as Shaman Heather bit her lip, and tapped her fingers on her armrest. She pushed her goggles up, and dabbed her face with a wetnap. "Well THAT was interesting…"

"I take it you're not impressed either," said Heather slowly.

"I have my doubts," Snowbird said.

"Well, I did overhear your conversation. It was pretty hard to miss…" Shaman snorted.

"He is overconfident… and I think he's exaggerating when he says he never trained for combat. Who is he trying to fool?" asked Snowbird.

"Exactly," said Heather with a sigh. "Can we trust this man? For he seems altogether too calm for a man who's lost his fiancée…"

"I am inclined to agree," said Shaman slowly. "He's not what he seems."

"Logan agreed," said Heather. "And what he revealed on the bus…"

"Calling Guardian…" crackled Mac's voice over the videolink. "Are we ready for phase 3?"

"Yes," she nodded. "We have some startling developments…"

"Clue me in as we go… Dept H just dug up some dirt on Mr. Ravina… "

"You got the data then?" asked Shaman.

"What sort of dirt?" asked Heather.

"The medical records he transmitted are equally puzzling, and disturbing. The experimental treatment he described his so-called fiancée undergoing is radical…" said Shaman.

"That's correct. It hasn't passed the FDA certification; much less the JCMAH or the New England Journal of medicine peer review. I was one of the major opponents to use psychic projection to deaden pain response…"

"Psychology is one of your fields, Michael," said Heather. "What is your impression?"

"He gives all indications of projection, and denial. Classic case of hiding something."

"That's not all, Michael," said Mac, his face creasing in worry. "The medical file on Jubilation lee shows the sessions were performed by this 'Bridy' he specified. But there is no history past five years on the name, or patient treatment records. She doesn't have a certification to practice psychological therapy…"

"What?"

"She's licensed as a hypnotherapist, and she has some permits to treat provided she is only using her psychic powers to observe along with training. Supposedly its visualization. But Jubilee's treatment involved direct memory suppression. …"

"Damn…" muttered Heather.

"But memory suppression isn't used for post traumatic stress disorder except as a stop gap. Professor Xavier himself wrote the book," Shaman protested.

"This is more and more confusing," said Snowbird. "I don't like this at all…"

"I don't think we can trust his source of information. He also shows a case history of Supernova use. He is recovering from it, and this whole fiasco is some sort of 'community service' that he's performing to make his company look good, and pacify the Canadian government." Said Mac.

"We already know that," said Heather, sighing in exasperation.

"But Jubilation's record also shows signs of abuse… now that you mentioned that," Shaman muttered, bringing up her file.

"You're joking…" Heather murmured.

"Yes. When combined with a tranquilizer, Supernova can also be a narcotic… enabling the control and enhancement of mutant powers by the user. In Jubilee's case it was prescribed to stop the 'night terrors' while her memories were suppressed of all traumatic memories…"

"How did you get hold of all this?" Michael asked. "I don't have access to her psychologist's notes…"

"Ah but we do have records of her clients. You'll see that the patient history shows indications of severe changes in behavior of any patients she's treated. It is as if she has some 'magic touch' to heal psychic trauma. The so-called treatments on Victor Creed simply pacified him. Memory suppression didn't work… and he became addicted to her therapy."

"But are you saying Jubilee was a supernova user?" asked Heather.

"Yes. There were traces of the drug found in her body… going back to Generation X. Apparently there is a criminal suit filed against one of their former students, Dmitry Ravina, for selling the stuff…" said Mac. "I accessed the files sent to us by Banshee… of the Massachusetts academy…"

"Dmitry was in Generation X?" Heather muttered.

"He was a former student of Emma Frost, before the school closed down… and he was a member of the Hellions… along with Warpath, Catseye, Roulette, and Empath…"

"The Hellions…" muttered Heather.

"Which are all names of current employees of Dnepper Kiev… and many were former Genoshan workers," said Snowbird.

"Exactly… and although Emma Frost claims she is no longer in touch with any of them… which I am sure of, it seems as if our 'informant' isn't what he seems," said Heather slowly. "Damn…"

"A royal mess," said Shaman, shaking his head.

"Dmitry was less than exemplary. He was dropped from the school after only two years… and then was trained by private tutors," said Mac. "According to the records… he was stricken from the official rolls of the school in order to prevent a scandal…"

"Daddy cleaning up his child's mistakes," Heather sighed. "We have got to keep digging…"

"I agree. I'll be on it here. You give me an assessment of Logan's single combat… I have a feeling he knows something we all overlooked, as usual," said Mac.

"Right," she nodded. "What now?"

"Stay put. And have Jubilee out of the way…"

"She's with Northstar," said Heather.

"Excellent. Have him take her back to base, and keep her out of sight till Phase 3 is over…" said Mac.

"Agreed… but I still wonder if he somehow KNEW she was here," said Heather, stroking her chin.

"Hopefully I can find an answer to that soon, from here," said Mac. "Take care… and let me know if anything turns up on your end…"

"Will do," Heather nodded, depressing the off switch.


The White Zone boundary was marked by the smell of ozone, from infrared beams. Logan tensed, then leapt up into the nearest tree and crouched, waiting for the inevitable hiss and crackle of heat as the barriers were moved aside. He had smelled the overconfident puppy miles away. Who could miss the stench of charred hair coming to him on the breeze, mingled with Aurora's scent?

Silent footsteps tracked the steaming ones, and the black suited figure moved from tree to tree. "If that idiot was making any more noise…" he mumbled to himself. "I'd be getting a damn headache…"

He leapt to the next tree, and positioned himself to peer through the canopy. The wind shifted, and the smell grew stronger. Bold, brash and challenging, yet subtle. However the sharp crackle and surge of flames that sprung up was the next tree over. He heard the squeal of a deer, and saw the blur of brown against fire, leaping away. A sharp exhalation of breath, and a snort followed the scent of fear and sudden shock. Then the fear ebbed away and was replaced with brash reassurance.

Someone was fifty yards distant, standing in the clearing. Just standing there, not moving. Logan could easily tell who it was. Almost too easily. A casual ease as the heat drifted back, and Logan realized that this pyrokinetic must have some super sense of heat. Including the body heat that living beings radiated.

"Clever bastard," Logan muttered. He clutched the blade in his hand, and then leapt out of the tree. Flipping over and onto his hands, he gathered momentum and landed in the snow behind Flashpoint.

A quick movement and he glimpsed out of the corner of one eye. Logan somersaulted out of range, and a fireburst exploded two feet away. A ring radiated from just before Flashpoint and swept out to a circumference of five feet. However Flashpoint couldn't see the source of the sudden movements that kept the figure just out of his view.

A punch landed in his kidneys, and he lurched forwards. Then it was followed by a kick to the shins that felled him. He stared wildly, and the ring of fire swept back towards him, closing tighter and tighter. Another burst of movement and a loud growl echoed in his ears, and he was laying on his back in the snow, hearing only the crackle of the fire he had generated burning around him.

"I know you're there… come out and face me…" called Dmitry as he climbed to his feet. Movement blurred, and he glared into the trees. Firebursts exploded after the movement, a creeping barrage radiating out, but he saw nothing.

Then the blur of black came into view, and he saw someone flipping just before the punch landed into his jaw. He feinted, and brought up his fist to barely miss the target. Angrily he sent another wave of fire, and saw the movement behind the flames of a squat figure. Spinning about he felt something move, and stopped. The fire burned steadily in a protective ring, and he peered through the curtain of flames, seeking some sign of the attacker.

Light was eclipsed and he tumbled under a solid weight from above. Cursing he rolled throughout he flames, and smelled burning hair. Something was on fire, and rolled over and over to extinguish the flames in the snow. His attacker stood for a second, and a knife flew in his direction. Quickly it hit the zone of flame thrown up, vaporizing in the intense heat of Dmitry's flame.

"Simple toys won't stop me," called out Dmitry. "If this is the best you can do…"

"Just warming up, bub… you ain't seen nothing yet," someone growled, and he turned his face to the noise as the opponent turned to face him, and then somersaulted out of the way of another pyro flare. Another creeping barrage started, and the random flips and dodges of the Weapon X kept him just ahead.

"You can't keep this up forever… sooner or later you'll tire… you're only flesh and blood…"

"You don't have a clue, do ya?" came harsh laughter. "Why don't you come out from behind those flames, and fight like a man?"

"Very well, but don't expect me to be lenient," Dmitry laughed.

"Seem pretty experienced for a man who claims he's not had battle training…" came the reply, and he was facing empty air.

"I owe you no explanations, save what is required," said Dmitry. "Now shall we fight or not…"

He anxiously glanced around, alone in the clearing. Sending out the waves of heat, he felt nothing in return. Just the currents of snow whirling, and a small drift here and there. Not a sound save the whistling of the wind, and the beating of his own heart. Whatever he was doing, this Weapon X was playing with him, toying with him.

"This is getting monotonous…" Dmitry muttered, and whirled at the sudden rasp of metal. It was metal on metal, just faint, but almost directly overhead.

He turned, and saw metal, and heard the loud road coming right at him. Six gleaming skewers aimed RIGHT at him, and he could not get out of the way in time. Except to hurl up a wall of flame that slammed into whatever it was. A nasty suspicion grabbed him, and he slowed his attacker long enough to roll away, and see the smoldering cursing figure growling and rolling in the snow.

Something tagged his leg, and he felt a sting and something oozing out of a long cut. Gasping in pain, Dmitry sent a wild series of fireflashes all around him. Three gleaming skewers swiped and he gasped as they only just dug into the skin on his chest, tagging him and tearing the cloth. The snarling, growling figure was altogether too fast, and his clumsy fireflashes narrowly missed as he backed away.

Again it leapt, and he felt the sickening crack as a kick landed in his solar plexus. He sank, hugging his gut, and felt another kick throw him down. Head swimming he managed to land a punch. Then he was rolling over and over with a masked figure, and a fist was shoved under his jaw.

"Ain't such a hot shot without yer fire are ya, pal?"

"You can't be… here…" Dmitry trailed off, recognizing the masked face that stared at him, fangs bared and body pinning him down. Three foot-long blades were pinning him by one shoulder, through the gathered material of his costume overcoat.

"Surprised to see me? Bet ya thought I was far away, didn't ya, punk?"

"How the hell… you're one of the X men… where's Weapon X…"

"My other moniker bub. You ain't up on yer history ARE ya? But then again you don't look too bright seeing as ya resort t' hiding behind yer little matchsticks instead of really fighting… I bet ya don't even break a sweat in the training room, do ya?"

"I've been deceived… I…" Dmitry grasped as he struggled to focus his power. A hissing rasp by one ear jolted his concentration, and he saw the gleam of adamantium on one side of his face.

"Don't even give me that garbage, bub… you didn't come here just to play nice-nice with Alpha Flight didja? Better start talking…"

"I don't know what you mean…" he stammered, and a second flash on the other side of his jaw indicated a second claw had been unsheathed, pinning his angular face on either side, and the metal housing of the middle just under his neck.

"I'm talking about one of my teammates. Jubilee… maybe ya know her? I hear you paid for some pretty expensive treatments for her… messed with her head…"

"You misunderstand… I saved her…"

"Now why don't' I believe ya?" Wolverine growled, pressing his fist tighter, and cold adamantium barely broke the skin on one cheek. His heart pounded, and he felt the other set of claws digging into the cloth, and cutting towards his shoulder.

"No… you don't understand… I… she needs me…"

"Better not be lying to me bub, cause I get REALLY cranky when I hear answers I don't like… and I'm tempted to shish kabob ya unless I do…"

"I…." Dmitry trailed off as he felt something moving under his chin, and glanced anxiously down.

"Tell me… ya messed with her head so she forgot everything, right? Is THAT what ya did… hurry up now… I'm REALLY impatient…"

"I… it was for her own good…"

"Yes ya did, or yes ya didn't…"

"I didn't… want to hurt her I… let me go…" he gasped, adrenaline pounding as he struggled to focus his power but found himself paralyzed by fear and sudden fascination that the X Men had somehow tracked him here, and Alpha Flight was nowhere in sight. "Please…"

"Bad answer, bub," Wolverine growled.

"No… I… please… I didn't mean to… I only wanted her to forget…" he cried. Dmitry felt everything go black as metal rasped. His eyes rolled in the back of his head, and all his muscles went limp in a split second. Pinned under Wolverine he lay deadly still. Wind whistled around them, moaning and blasting cold air across the Red Zone.

With a snort of disgust, Wolverine pulled his hand out from under the man's chin. "I'm not surprised. The bozo fainted…" he snickered. Indeed Dmitry still lived, but the triple clawmarks all over his uniform, not breaking the skin but leaving fine scratches, and the cuts on either cheek were proof he'd faced the Wolverine and had been left wanting. Even though the cuts were superficial, they were a clear warning.

Logan pulled off his mask, and glanced down. The black and gray mask had been tucked under his jacket all the time. He wondered if Dmitry would get the hint to stop playing games, and fess up. Either way, he faced a long trek back. Reaching for his cell he dialed the Command mobile, and heard the resulting crackle. Heather's voice said, "Wolverine… you cut that pretty close… you scared the living hell out of him…"

"Good. Tell Shaman he's got a patient suffering from shock… and some superficial cuts. I'm damn tired… is this session over?"

"Yes. And he clearly failed," said Heather with a note of satisfaction. "Standby… we're coming to get you."


"What a wimp," Aurora observed as two medics lifted Flashpoint up and set him on a gurney. They wrapped him in a blanket, clustering about him with their various first aid treatments.

"You're not joking… but where did you hear THAT word from?" Heather asked as she stood by Aurora, hands on her hips.

Logan watched as they hauled him on board the helicopter, which was setting to take off. Shading his eyes with his hand, he gritted his teeth at the loud drone of it taking off. Wind from the spinning blades pushed their hair out of their faces, and the helicopter rose up to eclipse the view of the sun, which was fast setting. "Hope they got plenty of Band-Aids and iodine… he's sure as hell gonna need them…"

"Did you HAVE to resort to that?" Aurora asked.

"He just as good as admitted to having SOME share in Jubilee's problem," said Logan.

"And he's failed his test. He was clearly fighting defensively, and in no shape to go up against anyone such as you," said Heather.

"Wasn't it… cheating in a way…"

"You know how I fight, Aurora… sounds like yer almost DEFEINDING the guy…"

"Well we don't know…"

"I can smell the punk was hiding something. He DID mess with her. If not him, then someone else…" Logan growled.

"Let's go back. We have a lot of debriefing to do with Mac on this development…" said Heather slowly as she held out a hand to Logan. "You up to a ride back?"

"What the hell…" Logan muttered as she lifted him under the arms, and he felt the ground disappear from under him. Aurora was far ahead as they flew along towards the Alpha Base. Heather updated him on the file that Mac had found.

"You did what you had to. Mac's research confirmed your instincts…"

"Jubilee… on supernova?" asked Logan, shaking his head. "And that guy was pushing it on her?"

"Just about. Shaman is performing a blood test on her now… he should have the results soon…"

"Damn him… but what would THAT get him if he already had some goon messing with her head?"

"I don't know… but the fact she was using the substance when she was in Generation X proves he's got a connection that is less than savory," said Heather.

"You bet Red," he muttered. "No wonder her powers were going screwy. And those lapses in her memory WERE a telepath…"

"Indeed. Bridy…"

"Did you say Bridy?" Logan snarled. Pink and green bands striated the sky as the sun slipped behind the mountains.

"You've heard of her?"

"Bridy's only Creed's little mistress," Logan said angrily.

"But she was supposedly working for…"

"No way in flamin' HELL. She's under Creed's thumb. He got addicted to her head-trips. Wanted her damn 'glow' all the time. So either he's in cahoots with Sabretooth, or else he's awfully stupid. And I'm putting my money on the first…"

"I figured Jubilee would have told you…"

"Think about it Heather, would someone be THAT flamin' stupid to leave a loose end?" Logan snorted.

Guardian sighed and they dipped in altitude, circling the Alpha Base. The ground expanded and Logan felt himself come to a stop as she hovered, and then set him gently down in front of the main entrance to the large mansion. Already the shadows were long, and the chill had set to the air. Heather and Logan felt it seeping into their bones, and entered in silence.


Jubilee winced as she sat on the examining table. Northstar stood nearby, his arms folded across his chest as Michael Twoyoungman pulled back on the plunger, and blood filled the ampoule in his other hand. "Ugh, I don't mind seeing other blood, but my own…" she trailed off.

"Don't fool me, you're used to it…" said Northstar as he saw the twinkle in her eye. She was trying to lighten the mood with humor, in an attempt to not think about the Phase 3.

"So what's this test for anyway?"

"Just a routine blood analysis… we make all members of Alpha Flight take one," said Michael.

"Are we done?" Jubilee asked.

"Yes," said Shaman, who was in civilian clothes and a long white labcoat. He seemed so normal, as did the other members of Alpha Flight who were waiting around for the return of their co leaders. If she glanced out the window, she could see the surrounding forest and modern buildings of the Base. Already the sky was pitch black save the glow of base lights and the albedo of the snow reflecting a sodium orange.

"Let's go join the others in the rec. room… I think you promised you'd show me just how GOOD you are at pool," Northstar said as Jubilee leapt off the table, and rolled her sleeve down.

"Are we okay to take off these uniforms?" she asked. "I sure as hell hope so… I feel like I'm wearing an oven mitt…"

"I know these costumes are thicker than your X Men uniforms, but they are better suited for Canadian winters," Northstar chuckled as they walked out of the medical suite, and down the long hallways into the mansion. She felt edgy and nervous, hearing no word of Logan or Dmitry.

"Why didn't they let me watch the fight?" she asked.

"Logan didn't want to upset you," said Northstar.

"He was right, but not hearing ANYTHING? I thought that Shaman…"

"Shaman had to come back here, and Heather had the remote monitor hooked up… you remember Walter was having trouble exercising self control?"

"He went ballistic cause he thought he saw Dmitry flirting with Aurora… can you BLAME him? What is her DEAL?"

"My sister was simply acting according to orders. Walter had to be deceived to think she was actually interested in Dmitry… and once they explained things to him, he finally settled down…"

"After getting hit with a needle the size of a skewer!" Jubilee groaned.

They emerged in the recreation area. Jubilee sighed as she remembered being here only a few hours ago, sitting on the sofa and having the roller coaster ride of her emotional life with Logan. How could she want to strangle him one moment, and hug him the next for being so overbearing? On one of the sofa's they saw the movement of a blonde head of hair, and a black cascade, and gentle giggles.

"Are we interrupting something?" Northstar coughed.

Jeanne Marie yelped, and Walter nearly jumped a foot out of his seat. Features merged and blurred, and Sasquatch towered over them, his head almost touching the ceiling as he grabbed Northstar by the front of his costume and swung him around. "Put him down!" Aurora cried.

"You scared the HELL out of me!" Sasquatch rumbled.

"I see…" Northstar gurgled, and stumbled against Aurora as he was set down again. Jubilee stifled her laughter behind her hand, her mind diverted from her worries for the moment.

"I guess you two kissed and made up?" Jubilee commented.

"You could say that," Aurora said as she helped Northstar to sit down, and catch his breath. Sasquatch swept her up in his arms and put her over his shoulder.

"After I thought of a good punishment," he laughed, and the sound was like a low growl.

"If I wasn't…" Northstar panted.

"Jubilee, they're on their way back," Snowbird announced as she turned away from the video screen and walked over from another chamber adjoining the recreation area.

"Oh hi there," said Jubilee. "You mean…"

"They should be here any minute…"

"What happened?"

"We're all going to have a team meeting regarding it," Snowbird said. "I will let Logan tell you the rest…"

"Logan is he okay… did Dmitry…"

"Other than a few singed hairs, I'm fine, darlin'," Logan's voice rasped from behind and Jubilee was swept up and spun in a circle.

"Jeez Louise Logan, you're gonna make me hurl!" Jubilee yelped in protest as she stared down at him.

"That's a fine way to greet your man after he kicked major backside," Heather laughed as she looked on.

"You didn't…"

"Let's just say Dmitry went down in a blaze of glory," Logan laughed.

"You didn't hurt him too badly did you?"

"Just a friendly warning he needs to stop with the BS and start with a clear story, nothing more…" Logan reassured her as he lowered her to stand directly before him, and pulled her into an embrace.

"Logan why the HECK didn't you at least let me have a CLUE about what was going on? I was so worried!" Jubilee scolded him. "I mean it would have like been nice to at least know you were BBREATHING…"

"Sorry darlin'… just figured you had enough of a ride today without me adding to it," Logan said as he stroked her back, in full view of his team members.

"Sorry to break up the greetings, but we have a meeting…" Heather coughed gently. "And some bad news for you, Jubilee…"

"What bad news?" she asked. Logan stroked her arms gently.


Sasquatch put down Aurora, and shifted into his human form again. Logan stood on Jubilee's side, his hand holding her close to his hip. Puck had entered, sitting down next to Northstar, and glancing up at Heather with her hand on her hips. Snowbird stood apart, her amused smile vanishing in a worried frown.

"You're probably wondering why we ordered a blood test," said Shaman as he entered the room, his hands thrust into his labcoat pockets.

"There was another reason, wasn't there?" Jubilee asked as she hung her head. "You know about…"

"The supernova…" said Heather softly.

"Oh GOD," she sniffled.

"Hey, shh it's okay… I'm not gonna flip out," Logan reassured her.

"Oh god if that's the bad news… but I swear I haven't touched the stuff since graduation…"

"We believe you. The drug is metabolized slowly and is stored in the fat cells… the byproducts. But the medication you were taking… the anti depressants… they contained traces of it…" said Michael Twoyoungman.

"How did you…"

"I gave him your medication just to confirm something, I'm sorry I didn't tell you," said Heather softly.

"Good grief it never ends does it?" Jubilee groaned, hiding her eyes behind one hand.

"And Logan here got a close admission from your ex," said Snowbird softly as she stood on Jubilee's other side.

"What admission…" Jubilee asked. "Logan… what did you do to him… what did you say?"

"Let's just say he fainted dead away when he saw the Wolverine standing over him with six reasons to fess up," Heather said with a wry smile.

"But you were wearing your other costume…"

"Simple… if he thought the X men were wise to him, he was thrown off balance. The last thing he expected was to see an X man anywhere NEAR alpha flight. Shows that he had some inside knowledge of the team workings… and his knowledge ended about the time that you and I took off…"

"He assumed you were still with the X men then," Jubilee trailed off. "But I swear I don't remember telling him anything about you… only that I had been an X man… and he wanted me to stop…"

"Do you remember a doctor… a psychic they called Bridy?" asked Logan gently.

"No… not really… I mean he said I had treatments but…" she trailed off. "Dammit why can't I remember… it's all a gray blur in places and when I try to…"

Her fingertips misted blue, and then purple as she squeezed her eyes shut. Everyone backed away, except for Logan who clutched her tightly and pushed her fists between them so they were trapped against his chest. "What's going on?" Heather asked, her costume humming with electromagnetic power.

Jubilee's eyes flared white and Logan gritted his teeth at the sizzle of plasma crackling from her hands. Still her hands were tucked between herself and Logan's chest. Her entire body trembled with anger, and the sudden onslaught of something breaking through the gray haze. Bridy. The name Bridy had jarred her, and a flood of images coalesced in her mind.

"Her powers…extreme stress is triggering them," Shaman said. "Walter… get the medical kit… I'll see if I can sedate her…"

"I could have told you that, pal," Logan hissed. "Jubilee, relax, you've gotta relax…"

"Let her go… she looks like she's breaking through," said Northstar.

"How do you know?" Aurora demanded.

"No, he's right," Logan said. "Jubilee, try and remember…you gotta relax!"

"I can't… I just can't… damn them!" Jubilee gritted, the cascade of anger and frustration building up to a fever pitch.

"Stop her she'll fry Logan!" Heather cried.

"Stay BACK!" Logan yelled, clutching Jubilee to his chest.

"I can't remember, damn him," Jubilee gritted.

Shaman's hand was thrust into his medicine pouch, reaching for an enchantment for sleep. Heather was pushing everyone back, shielding them behind her EM armor. Northstar was pushing Shaman away, blocking his progress with his body as Aurora looked on in confusion. Puck had left the room, to help Walter get the medical kit for the emergency that was unfolding. Plasma arced and wreathed around both Logan and Jubilee, Logan gritting his teeth and feeling the heat increasing around him.