Chapter Eight

"So let me get this straight," Jamie Madrox continued as he piloted the S.H.I.E.L.D. stealth ship through a thick patch of fog, "There's what, some kind of Skrull invasion and the Hulk is tied in?"

"And the Brood," Madrox, the co-pilot chimed in.

"Don't forget Mephisto," a third Madrox duplicate said from the aft of the cabin. The jet screamed through the upper atmosphere as Madrox brought the ship towards its destination, the location where the Banner Skrull was picked up. The occupants in the plane were all clad in black leather, as Fury had insisted that no colorful costumes be worn for this type of covert mission.

"Let's just keep our heads and relax, soldiers. Fury gave us the coordinates of the Skrull's last known location. We're to check it out and find any useful information that will help us assess where the real Banner is, and what, if anything, the Brood or Mephisto has to do with any of this," Steve said from his seat in the starboard side of the craft.

"Whatever we do, mind you Rogers, I will need to return to the waters after about a day or so," Prince Namor said from the seat behind Steve. Steve nodded his head as pilot Madrox whispered to his co-pilot.

"Why does he need to go back to the water?" The co-pilot pointed his index finger to the side of his head, making a face and spinning his index finger in tiny quick circles. "Oh, okay. I get it."

"Hey Namor, I saw Sue Storm about a week ago, she still is looking fine," Logan joked between an exhale of cigar smoke. The smoke curled up into the air and then was sucked up by the air filtration systems.

"Cute, Logan," Namor grunted as he crossed his arms and stared out the window.

"So this is how you heroes spend your leisure time," Erik said from the aft seat of the plane. Danny Ketch squirmed in his seat next to Magneto. He couldn't believe he was actually in the same company as any of the people that were on this plane. Just a few days ago his biggest concern had been having enough money for beers and burgers, and now he was in a covert mission that could save the world.

"Quiet all of you. We're over the coordinates now," the smooth, confident voice of Steve said, silencing the men. It was three in the morning so visibility outside was nothing. Madrox began to motion the craft to a lower altitude. Suddenly, a loud, creaking sound resonated throughout the hull. It sounded like metal grating on metal and the plane itself froze in place and refused to respond to either of the Madroxes' commands.

"That doesn't sound good at all," murmured Ketch. The screeching sound continued for a few terrifying seconds and then abruptly stopped. In the short silence that followed, chaos erupted. The entire roof of the plane was torn off and disintegrated into a thousand tiny particles. With the hull breached, the air inside became a vacuum and everything that wasn't bolted down was hurled through the open canopy. The only person not strapped in was Logan, and he flew out of the plane like a bullet from a gun. The plane fell into a tailspin, plummeting towards the Earth at breakneck speed. Captain America took command of the situation.

"Jesus, everyone hold tight! Namor, get out there and retrieve Logan! Magneto, try and hold what's left of the plane together and brace it for impact!" Namor tore his restraining belt off and flew out of the canopy. Outside there was debris and flames everywhere and Namor could barely see. He finally located a faint outline that he assumed was Logan and dove towards it. He collided with the plane as it swirled around and the entire package crashed into a complex that was fairly large. The plane was in about a thousand pieces and there were bodies strewn everywhere. The impact alone had created a half dozen other Madrox duplicates who were now helping the others to their feet.

"Report! Stand together in a circle until we can assess the situation!" Cap said, brandishing his trademark shield and searching the area for threats.

"Here," Namor said coldly, dusting himself off.

"Pissed off," Ketch said, his skull blazing with fire.

"Present," Magneto said, hurling debris off of himself like it was confetti.

"We're all here too," the Madroxes said in unison.

"Fuck.. ugh. Here," a voice was heard a few feet away form the encircling heroes. "This really hurts… can someone get me off of this?" The others turned to see Logan, whose body had fallen a few hundred feet and landed on two broken metal cylinders that had pierced through his flesh and punctured his internal organs.

"Jesus Christ..." one of the Madroxes whispered. Magneto lifted his left hand and, with controlled precision, removed the metal stalagmites from Logan's body. His limp form fell to the floor and he spit up blood from his mouth. He coughed twice more and could feel his liver and lung knitting themselves back together, and the open wounds closing around them.

"Thanks Mags, almost good as new," Logan said, stumbling to his feet and joining the others.

"Anyone have any idea what just happened?" Ghost Rider asked.

"Not yet. But we're sure as hell gonna find out," Cap said between clenched teeth.