Chapter 28
Memories spun through her head that night. All of what Gambit had said spun in her brain, spilling over into her subconscious. While during the day her mind blocked certain times, during night the floodgates opened.
While Mariko Yashida was Creed's 'geisha', she would have the urge to use her favor with him to help her cousin and fellow mutants have more food rations and medicine. In return, she took more menial tasks of feeding the more difficult mutants. Through careful nudging she gained sympathy for the subject Wolverine, and would sneak him food and medicines when he was locked in his cage. Sabretooth's hatred would fuel the subversive aims, but that was all part of the plan…
She'd first heard about Wolverine from snatches of conversation. X-1 was under detention when he protested the program. However Creed's attempts to break Mariko proved futile, but his training held. He voluntarily injected Mariko with blood transfusions during several bloody training sessions with Deathstrike. However, this made her a genetic relative, and thus less of a temptation to 'breed'.
The ultimate aim was to crossbreed the Japanese operatives with the five originals. Various offspring were conceived but weapon X conditioning obliterated any memories of them. They were classified as security A 1 blackout. When Creed was called away to another 'mission' with Maverick, Silver Fox, and Kestrel, subject Wolverine was detained for reconditioning and 'breeding'.
Agent Michelle, formerly Mariko through conditioning was primarily used in the laboratory per Creed's insistence. He was successful in conditioning her to his whims, but due to her carrying his genetic material was not allowed to 'breed' with her. Agents Kwannon and Yukio were sold to Shinobi Shaw to infiltrate the Hand and learn their techniques as ninjas. Deathstrike was also used, but managed to break free and join the Hand against her Weapon X conditioning, while Kwannon and Yukio remained conditioned under Shaw's direct commands. Shiro and Mariko were the only ones left after Shinobi betrayed his Weapon X alliances to pursue his own aims.
Now as she lay there next to Logan, she slowly thrashed, groaning as she recalled another slew of memories from the very beginning…. Something about that tag Gambit had found unlocked a name that she had long forgotten. That and a ring that she'd seen Logan tossing up and down, bearing the name James…
Now Creed was away on a mission to Cozumel, and her duties had shifted. For the past few weeks she had been given food by Dr. Kinney, who pitied the subject X-1 and allowed to tend him. She managed to order KFC from the local canteen, which she carried with the medical supplies Dr. Kinney allowed her to have.
She always hated going to the Compound. Where the less fortunate mutant operatives were housed when they disobeyed or were first brought for questioning. She walked past the checkpoint, glancing wildly to see if Shiro was there. Shivering she noticed that cage was empty.
"What are you looking for, Mutie?" asked the soldier nearby, writing on a clipboard.
"Sunfire? Is he here? I'm here to tend to the subject under Dr. Kinney's orders; she's substituting for Dr. Cornelious… Stryker sent me…"
"Wraith's in charge here, X-34," he said, glancing at her arms. "You're that lab tech… well seems yer job description's changed?"
"Where is Sunfire?"
"That's for us to know an' for you to find out. Move on will ya?" the man laughed, swatting her backside. "And I can't WAIT to see you tonight… Yum-yum…"
"I was sent to tend him," said her voice. "To see Capt. Howlett…"
"By whose authority?" Spear asked, glancing over at his colleague to the left.
"Colonel Stryker," she said firmly.
"Oh it's little Miss Yum-Yum," Danzig leered. "Ya sure you're in the right place? Isn't anybody named Howlett here…"
"Shut up, you know we can't touch her," guard named Danzig.
"Is there or is there not anyone here by that name?"
"Well if yer here to visit your animal friend, you'd better get your facts straight," Danzig laughed, grabbing her tag and yanking it to bring her forwards. He looked over the medical supplies in her hands.
"If you lock me in there again…" she threatened.
"She must be here to see X-1," said Danzig. "Enjoy yourself…"
"Fine, just let me in," Mariko said stiffly, wrinkling her nose. Barely had he hung on by the skin of his teeth, the animal in him the only thing keeping him going. He heard a shriek as a warm body collided with his. Creed's stench covered her, mingled with the smell of Original Recipe KFC, and a smell of lotus blossoms.
She winced at the pejorative kissy face he gave her, and approached the next place. Shots were exploding amidst loud snarls. She ducked behind an empty cage, seeing Reese and Harrison emptying round after submachine round into the occupant of the cage twenty feet away.
"That's enough… I think he's got the lesson," Reese snickered. Mariko shivered at the sign of the figure laying there, bleeding. Her stomach squirmed, and she forced down the fear that gnawed her. They said her kind were animals, but seeing this… animals shouldn't be treated like this…
She advanced after two minutes, clearly standing in full view of the guards who tended the special adamantium reinforced cage. Corporal Reese barked, "What are YOU here for?"
"Hey, if it isn't little miss Yum-yum," Harrison laughed.
"I heard you were comin' by sometime soon, but I never figured you'd be here now…"
"I'm looking for this man," she said, pointing to something on a form. "But since I'm here… I'm asking what you're doing to X 1…"
Reaching out, Harrison grabbed the papers from her hands, and shoved them in Reese's face. He grabbed Mariko's arm to stop her from walking away.
"Reese, do ya know anything about a Captain Howlett? This here mutant says she's here to see him…" Harrison said.
"Nope," Reese said as he wandered over and glanced at Harrison.
"Unhand me," she said.
"You aren't in any position to give ME orders," Harrison chuckled. "Reese!"
"Dunno about any Captain Howlett, but someone ELSE wants to see you,"
Reese leered as he glanced at Mariko. She stood there defiantly as Harrison shoved her forwards, and he grabbed her about the waist.
"She needs to be taught some manners, doesn't she?" Harrison asked. Reese reached for something on his belt and depressed it. Mariko glanced down at the unit, and felt the collar around her neck slowly constrict. It stung moderately like sunburn.
"Better watch it, or else we'll use the sick stick," said Reese, pulling her towards him. Harrison waved the baton he held in his hand menacingly at her.
"Why doncha keep HIM company, Yum-yum,' laughed Reese as he dragged her over towards the cell. She hugged the packet of medical supplies and food close to her chest. Harrison moved around and unlocked the door, while Reese thrust her inside. The door clanged behind her and Mariko skinned her knee as she landed face first.
She shook her head, hearing a loud snarling from just ahead. Hunched over, blood dripping from multiple wounds, the dark haired man shot forwards. Tattered cloth covered his chest and his uniform pants were ripped to improvised shorts around his knees.
"Let me out!" she yelled. As before, X1 seized her by the neck, roaring as he slammed her to the cage wall. Dark eyes fixed into his, bright with shock. However the fear dissipated as they stared into his blue ones. Three adamantium claws slid out with a rasp of metal on metal, inches from her throat.
Snarling, X-1 tightened his grip on her neck, and the white-coated researcher continued to stare at him, gasping. "No… I'm a prisoner too," she gasped.
He heard the laughs of the men and the jeering as they spat and wolf whistled."Let's see if the Wolverine tears her apart!"
"RRRRRAGGH," X-1 snarled, and then buried his nose in her neck. Lotus and plum blossoms. She smelled like a woman. With one claw he slid her collar aside and saw no bite mark.
"You're called X-1, but that isn't your real name," she said calmly. "Do you remember me from last time?"
"Logan," he mumbled all he could remember. IT seemed to fit, and trying to push any further invoked a thousand daggers of pain.
"Logan… I know they hurt you… I've got food for you… please… I know you won't hurt me. You're a human being… not an animal… I only want to help you…"
"What's going on… why can't I…?" X-1 trailed off. Deeply he inhaled her scent, and retracted his claws.
"I'm not afraid of you, Logan," she said softly, and he released her neck. In shock he backed away, seeing the food in her hands. He smelled medicinal alcohol and the clean sterile scent of bandages. "I'm X-34… but I'm called… M… Mi…"
Mariko gasped at the pain shooting through her mind. Struggling to say her own name was impossible. She stammered as her lips struggled to form the name.
"You're trapped too," X-1 said as he saw the guards watching them like caged animals. Snarling he turned and grabbed the bars rattling them. The two guards backed away, one of them showing a wet stain between his legs.
"Let's get outta here," they whimpered.
X-1 exhaled, releasing the adamantium bars. Mariko huddled there, her knee hurting as she knelt by the cage door. Still her black eyes focused on X-1, no hint of pity. Just concern for him. "Flamin' bastards," he mumbled. "Amusin' themselves again…"
"I… here you look hungry… Let me look at that," she said firmly. X-1 hissed in pain as her hands touched him, but she kept them in full view. With a pair of forceps she pulled each bullet out and dropped them into a kidney basin. The sting of her antiseptic and bandages was momentary.
Grabbing the food, he began to wolf it down. He was working on the mashed potatoes and gravy when he saw her watching him.
"What?" he asked. "Never seen an animal eat?"
"I don't see an animal. Just a man in a cage," Mariko said quietly, still working on cleaning his legs. "Who is as trapped as I am…"
"But why… why did you help me?" he asked.
"Because I wanted to," Mariko said. X-1 saw her eyes so clear and her smell so true. Anger twisted to remorse and for the first time he turned from a woman. In shame and fear he dropped his food, and huddled.
"Lemmie be," he muttered.
"No," she said softly. "I'm not afraid of you, Logan-san… afraid for you… I couldn't let those gaijin hurt you…"
He curled up on the floor. Shivering in shock which was something he'd hardly done. Naked and dirty he twisted his body from her. He heard the rustle of cloth as the technician shed her smock and draped it over him. Her hands were soft. X-1 grabbed them and saw the X-34 on her arm and fine scars. She did something that astonished him. She actually smiled at him.
"Can't remember," he murmured. "How I… learned to speak your language. Can hardly speak English…"
"Japanese?" he asked. "How the heck can I speak Japanese?"
"Yes," she said. "I don't know why you can either… maybe you were in a mission there… and they programmed you to forget?"
"Reconditioning… must be… or else…" he groaned. "So hard t' think… just started speakin' in your lingo without thinking… it happens… more an' more… got languages I didn't even know I could speak popping outta no place…"
"It's all right… shhh… we can speak in English if you prefer…" Mariko offered.
X-1 accepted her arms around him as she laid his head on her chest. Blood stained her lab coat, and he grabbed her tightly, sobbing into her neck. She hugged him close, and he laid his head and shoulders on her lap. She fought back the tears that dripped down her cheeks as she rocked him and sang to him softly. X-1 cried for the first time in his memory.
"They said you were called Wolverine?" Mariko whispered, stroking his soft black hair.
"I… it's not my real name," he whispered, pressing his head into her lap. "They're tryin' t' make me forget… I…"
"I know…" she whispered. "It's the memory implantation, isn't it?"
"I don't wanna forget… please don't let me forget…"
"Tell me all you remember," she urged. "Maybe I'll be able to remember for you and me both…Wolverine…"
"That ain't… my real name… it's… I can't… J… J…"
"Logan?"
"Was it… but I remember it bein' something' else… damn…"
"John… Jack… Jim?" she asked soothingly, knowing that the process of obliterating his identity had gone on for a long while.
"James…" he burst out, gripping her hands tightly. "My name…"
She reached down and grasped the dog tags jingling around his neck, and hers. She saw the clean break that snapped them in two, and held up a metal tag clutched in her hand. "I saw them break this off of you… James… It matches…"
He seized her hand, glancing down at the bit of metal laying there on her palm. Reading it, and squeezing his eyes in pain. "What… it's my name… but I can't flamin' say it… you said it just before…"
"Yes, that's your name. James. James Howlett," she nodded, and then took a deep breath. "I'm Mari… Mariko… oh Kami it hurts… I can't…"
"They want you t' forget too," he gasped. "They're doin' it to you too… aren't they…"
"James… Howlett," she whispered. "That's what it says… Captain… birthplace Edmonton Alberta…"
"Yours…" he grabbed at her tag, tugging it out of her neck. "Mariko… Yashida… Tokyo Japan. Yer Japanese all right but what are ya doin' here in Dept. H…"
"You're remembering… James," she said, stroking his sideburns.
"Yeah… it's comin' back… sometimes it does… after I settle down… crap… Ohh Mariko... such a pretty name... I promise ya I'll say it every time ya can't say it..." he sniffled, kissing her hands gratefully as he squeezed them between his. Swallowing hard she endured the painful viselike grip, seeing relief flooding his face.
"But your last name…Yashida… Yashida… my last mission…"
"Yes James… spoils of war…"
"You were Shingen's… niece…"
"Yes… given over with my father… Dr. Hikaru Yashida… he works with the man… the one who did this to you…" she whispered.
"Damn… but what… oh crap it's slipping away again… I…"
"Remember… try to remember… just relax," she urged, and he managed to sit up shakily, glancing at her. She wore a simple blouse and conservative skirt instead of the usual one piece uniforms he saw operatives wear, and a pair of stockings. Her shoes were gone, having been lost when she threw them at the men. Long black hair was twisted up into a traditional bun with a few pretty silver clips. Traces of white makeup lingered on her face.
"What's… this?" he asked, dragging his finger through it.
"They have me dress up as geisha to please them," Mariko blushed. "Serve them tea…"
"Crap, you mean yer…"
"No… nothing like that. Although they THREATEN me. And when I'm not amusing the men… I'm in the lab… but lately they've been having me feed everyone in the compound here… I think they're worried I'm learning too much about what I'm supposed to be working on… ever since Stryker…"
"Stryker? Did you say Stryker?" he bristled, growling low in his throat as he caught her hand.
"He and Colonel Wraith…" she said with a shiver. "I've been giving what food I can take to my cousin here… and I saw they threw you in here… I have no idea where they put my cousins Shiro and Lieu…"
"They're… operatives… I saw 'em… in training… never saw you… but ya say ya belong t'… Creed?"
"Till recently. He's on a mission… I think they're taking advantage of the fact that while he's gone they'll have their fun…"
"Damn…" he sighed. "So hard t' think… if I'd known…" he shook his head.
Again he felt the wildness surface, smelling the womanly scent so close. Mariko tensed at the movement of his body and he slid out of her lap. A feral look crept into his eyes, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed her neck. How had the man disappeared so suddenly, she wondered? She was about to get her answer when X-1 cocked his head sideways, growling deeply.
"Well, lookie that. Tarzan and Jane… or should I say Tarzan an' Jap?" laughed one of the guards. Wolverine whirled around, baring his fangs at the man.
"What do you want, gaijin?" Mariko asked, sliding her arms around his chest from behind to hold him back.
"Lemmie at those slime balls!" he snarled, pulling against her arms.
"What's this… can't have THIS Can we?" one of them said as he tugged the dog tags out of her hand.
"Haven't you done enough? Or are you going to let us out?" she demanded, glancing over his shoulder.
"He, yer a feisty little thing ain't ya, Madame Butterfly? How the mighty have fallen? You think you're too good for the likes of a fellow mutant? I think ya belong together…" Reese laughed.
"Shaddup ya son of a flamin' gun… ain't no way to talk to anyone, specially a lady!" Wolverine gritted, flashing his teeth at the two startled soldiers.
"Ohh did we make the animal upset? What's the matter, punk, can't stand us makin' fun of yer woman!"
"Come in here an' say that… ya slime bags…" Wolverine half-grinned. "An' Ill show ya some 'fun.'"
Something slid between the bars, and pressed into his side. He grunted and squeezed his eyes shut, suppressing the snarl of pain from the stun stick. "Stop it!" Mariko cried.
"That'll teach ya, ya freak…" Reese snickered, watching Wolverine crumple and bite his tongue to keep from crying out. Mariko pushed her body around Wolverine's to block the stun stick, which was making Wolverine's insides turn inside out. She gambled that they would not risk hurting her during their little game for she was far too valuable a resource. Plus when Creed found out, not to mention Colonel Stryker that they had pulled this stunt, they'd be in for major discipline.
"Cowards," she spat on them. "You'll pay for this… when my father finds out…"
"Your father's dead, Yum-yum, or didn't ya get the memo…"
"You lie…" Mariko whispered. "I don't believe you, dog sons… I demand you free us… Victor Creed with not stand for me not returning…"
"He don't even know yer here, girly… he's out bashing wetbacks in Cozumel… with the others…"
"What the heck… do you want…?" Wolverine growled, hanging onto humanity by a shred. "You can do whatever the blazes to me; just let her out of here…"
"What's the matter, you not wild enough to screw the girl, ya animal… maybe we'd better put some fight into him…"
"You are the animals," Mariko shouted. Wolverine howled in pain when he was jabbed in the ribs with one of the stun sticks. Blue sparks arced as the tip imbedded in him.
"No!" she yelled, grabbing at the batons thrust through the adamantium bars. With a powerful jerk to the side she wrenched it free. However she failed to notice another baton prodding from the left. A sharp lance of fire thrust into the base of her spine, and she bit her tongue to keep from screaming.
"Mariko!" Wolverine yelled. "Leave her ALONE!"
"That's for my dad in WWII. Consider it payback for what your old man did to thousands of us… its merciful…"
"Rrraaaghhh!" Wolverine roared, leaping forwards to throw his shoulder against the bars. Claws bit through his knuckles with a loud rasping "SNICKT'. The astonished guard saw the three bright blades hiss down and slice the sparking baton in two. Mariko gritted again, feeling prod after prod into her ribs, which dropped her to her knees, then on her side. Wolverine threw himself overtop of her, slicing and jabbing back at the jeering guards.
"That's put the fight into him… OWWCH!"
"Watch it, Reese; he's a stubborn little cuss…"
"Rrrrrgghhhh," he rumbled.
"I swear you will regret this," Mariko gasped, biting her lip. Red-hot pain racked her body, and through the glint of tears she saw Wolverine throwing himself repeatedly at the bars, his claws thrusting through the case wildly at the squad of soldiers gathered to watch the animal raging.
Reese and Harrison backed away in pain. One of them bled from three wounds crisscrossing his arm and part of his cheek. Blue sparks crackled through the cage as Wolverine seized the bars and rattled them. Mariko dragged herself forwards to see Wolverine convulsing and grasping the bars. Every muscle contracted his inhuman snarls and roars echoing in the menagerie.
"James… no…" she cried, reaching up. He slid off and landed next to her, clutching himself, as she smelled searing flesh.
"Stupid crap, works every time…"
"So, what will you do next, Gaijin?" Mariko gritted, struggling to her knees as she threw her lab smock over a very naked Wolverine. "Will Colonel Stryker praise your actions? I am a scientist… I work for…"
"He doesn't haveta. This is our fun time…"
"Colonel Wraith wouldn't approve…"
"You kidding? Stryker an' he are close buddies. Seems he got Wraith's ear on this… who do ya think lets us play around with you muties to toughen ya up?" his friend laughed.
"He don't care for Japs any more than we do, Mutie… and by the time we're through, there will be one less Mutie stinkin' up the base…" laughed the other. Double doors to the complex hissed, causing both men to snap to attention.
"Okay, fun times over, gents," said a young Captain. "Mind explaining just WHAT you're doing?"
"Captain, please… let us out!" Mariko cried.
"She was sneakin' food to X1… and we just…"
"You're not supposed to be in here, X34… what's the meaning of this…"
"Ask THEM," she pointed to Reese and Harrison.
"We had orders…" Reese hastily stammered.
"Uh huh, yeah, right. Mind getting her out of there before you both get your asses on KP for the next twenty years?" Captain Deveraux barked.
"But sir…" Reese stammered. "We have orders…"
"We'll see about this… get her out NOW!"
Wolverine fought his way to a reclining position, and then moved between the guards and Mariko once more. His sudden roar caused both guards to flinch, momentarily distracted by their jeering of Mariko. Another pain stick was jabbed into her ribs, and she keened in pain. Wolverine's claws were drawn yet again.
"What the devil's goin' on here?" asked Colonel Wraith.
"What's SHE doin' in the cage, sir?" Captain Deveraux asked. "I caught these two nimrods to get that Japanese mutant out of the cage! She's scheduled for labwork on section B…"
"Is she? I don't recall her bein' signed up today, do you?" Colonel Wraith asked. "Seems t' me it'd be a shame t' take her away from X 1 when he's all comfortable now, wouldn't it?"
"Sir, this can't go on… I know he has to be disciplined but involving an Alpha class scientist…"
"She's expendable…" Wraith whispered. "An' I think it's a pretty interesting show, don't you agree?"
Growling, he nosed into her neck again, nipping it sharply. Mariko cried out, flinching. "Wait… what are you…"
"Sir?" Captain Deveraux blinked.
"He's pretty taken with the little lady, I see… very interesting isn't it? First time we got such a response to a female…" said Wraith.
"But she belongs to…"
"James… wait… please…" Mariko urged. "Listen to me… hold on!"
Another snarl met her words. Lips curled back to reveal his sharp white teeth. That slight point of his canines bared sent shivers all over her body.
"Sir, we were just having some fun… seems that the chick has a pacifyin' affect on ol' X 1…" said Reese.
"Colonel Wraith… I demand that you…" Mariko coughed, spitting up blood. Wraith's finger pressed a button on a small remote control on his belt, and she arched in pain, gritting her teeth. Wolverine growled threateningly.
"Get that out of there…" he urged, grabbing the bit of metal in her hand. He wrenched it out of her fingers and thrust it into his pocket.
"Don't you do that to her…" he gritted. "She ain't…"
"Shut up, animal. I'm not talking to you," Wraith snarled, jabbing his baton into the cage right into Wolverine's ribs. He gurgled, hugging his stomach at another twist to his intensities.
"Excuse me, you DEMAND of me, cow?" Wraith turned to her. "You're in NO position to do anything, mutant. Don't you DARE speak till you're spoken to."
"I'm Mariko Yashida you bastard… you won't make me forget!" she coughed. Wraith reached in and yanked her dog tags. He snapped off the piece that contained her personal information, and shoved it into his pocket.
"Creed doesn't have any say. I own you, X34. You're no longer anyone but who I tell you you are. Yer name's Michelle if I decide you're behaving enough to deserve a name. And do what you're told. You've been reassigned temporarily, because our genetics department needs results. And your effectiveness in the lab is only a small part of what is required…"
"What…" the Captain blinked.
"Change in priorities. You'll find the details here, sir. Now, you're dismissed…" Wraith barked, and then turned his attention to the cage. Wolverine leaned down and licked at the scorch marks on her hands and arms.
"Pathetic," the Captain mumbled, as he shook his head sadly.
"Make her a new ID file. An' put both these in there…" Wraith said, tossing the tags to Deveraux. "I want their files sealed. As of this moment, X 34 is classified as Michelle. Nothing else."
"Yes sir…" Captain Deveraux saluted, shaking his head as he put the tags into a small plastic envelope.
"Ohh real cute, you idiots…" Wraith shook his head. "Hasn't anything HAPPENED yet?"
"No sir…"
"Let me OUT of here!" Mariko cried. "How can you DO this to your operatives… we've done NOTHING but…"
"If I wasn't so amused by this… I'd have you gagged, X34. For your sake I suggest you shut up and let nature boy do his thing…" Wraith sneered.
"What?" Mariko asked.
"RRRRRAGGHHH! Go to BLAZES!" Wolverine threw himself at the bars, snarling loudly. Claws shot out from their sheaths, and he flailed them angrily.
Mariko grabbed his arm, holding him back as she begged, "Please, stop… don't let him provoke you…"
"Put him down!" Wraith barked. Wolverine howled from the pressure of a pain stick jabbed into his gut, and his back. Mariko threw herself overtop of Wolverine, hugging him tightly as he huddled there.
"Stop it! He's a human being!" she yelled. "You… you…"
"You wanted to help X 1, now you've got your chance to keep him from going ape. So I'd suggest for your sake you spread your legs and start your assignment," the Colonel sneered. "And just MAYBE we'll let you BOTH out in twenty four hours…"
"Animal!" she yelled, cursing him in Japanese. Anger filled her face, but she crumpled in pain when the collar around her neck crackled with its own inhibitory powers. Seeing her, Wolverine roared once more at his captors. He tossed Mariko to the side, and threw himself repeatedly at the bars, forcing his claws hands through with vicious swipes. Blue sparks fizzled, and Mariko clutched her own neck at the blinding pain that stopped her from getting up and moving in their way.
Mariko heard a soft phutt and Wolverine collapsed on his hands and knees. Angry shouts were exchanged, and she felt a similar needle slam into her side. Incapable of moving, all she could do was to lay there and peer out of the side of the cage at the scene unfolding.
"That's quite enough, Colonel. I don't want the specimens damaged!" spoke a voice through the pain. Mariko blinked up, feeling someone nudging her face and pulling her clumsily next to him. It took all her willpower to force back her tears and not cry in front of the gaijin who were laughing and carrying on with this game.
"But sir… can't you see that maybe…" one of the others suggested.
"Colonel… I wanted them to mate, not scream for your private amusement. I understand your animosity towards our Japanese projects, but this borders on unnecessary and unusual…" Dr. Cornelius snapped.
"He's protecting her… and maybe we can get them to mate… I realize you're in charge of this, but I'm in charge of results. You asked me to provide the raw material, so you shouldn't question how I get results… Professor," Wraith answered.
"But her… she's…"
"She's known as Michelle for our purposes. Nobody cares about her past because it doesn't exist. No more than his does…"
"The whole idea behind this was that X2's genetic material has been implanted in her might lend them both capable of breeding a new sort of hybrid, and carry on the healing factor traits… instead of the cloning experiments," Dr. Cornelius explained. "I said nothing about testing reaction to physical stress…"
"I'm guessing you and Dr. Kinny's work didn't exactly work out as you thought…" Wraith laughed. "The copy machine broke did it?"
"You've got a sick sense of humor. But I share your aversion to resorting to cloning when tried and true methods should work."
"Indeed. Perhaps it would be better to see if we can create something the natural way. Then Dr. Kinney can take the results and force them to their natural conclusion. All we need is a suitable surrogate…"
"We want to duplicate him… not just have a new…"
"We can do both. Even if the child is conceived this way, there are ways to suppress her DNA from making any significant contribution other than filling in necessary holes…"
"Dr…. Cornelius. Why?" Mariko gasped, finally able to reach through her tranquilizer to form coherent words. "I've only done what you asked…You said if I worked for you that my Cousin…"
"Michelle is it?" he said, glancing at Wraith.
"I'm M… Mari…" she gasped, and felt pain wracking her.
"Your name is Michelle, got it," said Wraith, pressing his control button. Pain arched through her mind when she struggled to say her real name.
"I won't forget, I won't…"
"Come off it, you silly girl," Professor Cornelius laughed. "Your mutant powers are only a secondary gain. Consider yourself fortunate that you haven't been sent into the field… like the others… now enjoy…"
"I was to be the property of X 2…" she stated firmly. "And to work in the laboratory… not this…"
"X2 claimed you as spoils of war, but he's only playing with his food. And considering what modifications were made, I'm not altogether surprised. However I make the final determinations. You are an intelligent specimen, and X 1 is a strong physical subject in his prime. The permutations are scientifically sound. Crossbreeding will result in many benefits."
"As your brood mare?" she spat. "I'm surprised you have not done this when I was with X 2…"
"He failed miserable in that regard. He may be savage, but he doesn't mate with his own blood X 34. I think your willfulness will serve us better when you conceive. And I suggest you get on with it. If you DO have his child, you will be quite valuable…"
"Curse you," she whispered under her breath.
"Enjoy yourself. Come with me, Colonel, and leave the subjects to their work. I think they require some time alone… Reese, inject them with the necessary incentives before the sedative wears off…"
"Fine. But make sure she survives…" snickered Colonel Wraith. "And in one piece… once the show's over…"
White coated technicians moved forwards to jam needles into her and into Wolverine. Pain and more pain wracked her body. She felt like vomiting. Only when they had gone did she allow her own tears to fall. Wolverine cocked his head to the side, and crawled over to where she huddled. She felt his arm slide under her head, while his cheek bumped into hers. Rough stubble scratched her flesh, while his tongue lapped at the sensitive skin blistering around the collar.
"Shhh," he hissed softly, dragging his fingers over her mussed hair. He rumbled in his throat, smelling her deeply. Now Mariko lost control of her emotions, hugging her knees and sobbing with each wave of blistering pain. It had been a long time since they had used the collar on her. Yet the batons had never been applied to her as they had the others. What had changed their minds, she wondered? Sabretooth said she was his… so would he not come and get her?
"Amaterasu preserve me… ancestors please help me," she pleaded, hugging herself as she curled up. Wolverine curled up around her, hugging her body to his to convey warmth. His sandpapery tongue licked at the bruises and cuts like a friendly dog, his throat purring in odd bestial comfort while his hands roughly squeezed and rubbed her aching body.
Mariko sobbed into the strong arms that folded her close when Wolverine curled up in the side of the cell. He tugged her back to his front, encasing her in his arms from behind where he squatted on his haunches. Grunting, he sat down and tugged her into his lap possessively. His hands were struggling to turn her to face him, and she did so, glancing up at those bright gleaming eyes. Intensely they claimed her full attention, and she was lost in another wave of desire that overwhelmed her. Wolverine panted deeply, settling down to wait for her to come out of it.
Mariko blinked, wondering why the exhaustion was fading. Glancing down at her hands she saw her wounds were slowly closing up. While not as fast as those fading on his greasy skin, they were healing far in excess of what she recalled. Images flickered through her Swiss cheese memory, surfacing and inciting pain with the effort to remember. Sabretooth's leering face burned is way through and she heaved in and out. Aches and pains vanished later, sending a surge of adrenaline through her. Squeezing her eyes shut she forced her mind to clamp down. Inside her the tiger roared and snarled at the cage. Memories gained possession of the fog, and she understood that whenever confronted with that tiger buried inside her that she would have the knowledge to hold it back. Lock it into the cage that she constructed with Bushido and scientific reason. Then blur her memories so she would not recall what had been done. Weapon X training focused on the now and little else save what the mission required. A technique for selective amnesia where conditioning drew out what necessary memories were required then disposed of them after the mission was done.
"Logan…name's Logan. Don' be scared… won't hurt ya," he rumbled, reaching for her. Carefully he raised her up with rough hands and boosted her up. Wolverine turned her around to face him, squatting just before her on one knee. Large hands slid over her shoulders to press her down on her knees before him.
"Wolverine… Kami… this is what they…" she stammered, glancing at his penetrating gaze. He shifted forwards, grabbing the back of her neck and seizing it to attack her mouth with his again.
"It's in you," he snarled. "Let it go. Only way t' survive… only way to… give yerself to it…" he gritted, letting James again surface before the Wolverine dragged him inside.
It uncoiled itself inside her and jumped to the fore. She felt invincible, strong and uncaring about where she was. Only that every scent was magnified to levels that only were reached during combat. Strangely her energies were returning, and she knew that it was that cursed change in her own body that was responsible. Mariko squeezed her eyes shut, unable to hold back the raging beast clawing at her self-control. Panting heavily she felt the surging strength unleash and snap into every muscle of her body. Each sound echoed unmercifully loud, and she pressed her hands to her head to press them out. Scents, images, and sounds curled into a sensory overload that drove her to near madness.
"I… cannot… control it… too much… I'm a scientist for Kami's sake…" she repeated over and over.
"I can't… can't let go," she sobbed.
"James… Please… remember what you are," she pleaded, looking up at him. All traces of humanity had vanished from the hazel eyes fixing into hers. He hugged her tightly, still shivering from the aftershocks of the electrocution. A rough tongue lapped up her tears from her cheeks, hot breath fanning her face.
"Beautiful," he growled.
"Logan… please…" she whispered. He squeezed her shoulders tightly and crushed his mouth to hers. Simultaneously he tasted her mouth and bruised at her lips with possession.
"Wolverine…" he corrected. Mariko remained still as possible, half frightened he would hurt her if she did not comply. Before she knew it she was on her back, peering up at the wild eyes taking in her body. Rough hands slid over her, pinning her down under his muscular hairy body. Again he climbed overtop of her, snarling lightly to inhale her scent. From head to toe she shivered at the touch and smell surrounding her. Then his mouth choked off her next breath with a hard kiss and a sharp nip to her bottom lip.
"Kami," she gasped, and then yielded her control. Cupping his sideburn face, she glided her lips over his, and attempted a gentle kiss. A guttural sound of surprise resulted at the more delicate contact. If there was no alternative, she was going to enjoy it as much as possible.
"Mine… gonna protect ya, gonna claim ya… so nobody else can," he snarled. Claws erupted from his knuckles, flashing in the light of the cage before hissing towards her.
Hours later, Mariko lay surrounded by a nest of warmth. Uncaring that she was streaked with grime, sweat and blood; she dozed on in his arms. They tangled together in their mutual need for shared warmth at the corner of the adamantium cage.
Wolverine blinked, smelling a familiar scent. Slowly he came to, and stiffened with surprise. That animal miasma lifted, and he saw and felt the woman beside him. More specifically, he smelled his own scent marking her. Groaning, he gently untangled himself and let her lay there in the nesting material of the cage. A lump formed in his throat when he saw the bites from teeth that matched his. Even worse, he saw that they were rapidly closing up.
"Oh cripes, what did I do," he groaned, feeling a wash of shame. Surprise filled him when he saw the healing before his eyes. Already that bite mark on her neck where he'd marked her was fast fading. Quickly he found the clean clothes that she had sneaked in, and changed out of his ripped uniform before she awakened. Grabbing the water he sponged off her face lightly.
"Logan, are you all right?" she murmured, blinking and reaching up for him. Not looking at her he handed her the lab coat she'd worn inside.
"I… I'm so sorry," he gasped. "Good Lord what did I do?"
"Don't be sorry," she whispered, grabbing his wrist. "Please… it was all right…"
"Those dirt bags… they locked you in here with me when I went feral!" he snarled.
"Logan, look at me," she said, straightening up as he huddled miserably away. "I'm fine… no harm done…"
"How can ya even stand t' look at me," he snorted.
"I am looking… at a man who's been mistreated. As a woman who was caught up in something beyond her control. And feeling very glad that it was him that did this…if it was going to happen," she said, moving up behind him and kissing the back of his neck.
"Damn them all to hell," he sobbed.
"Shh, it's all right, c'mere… look at me," she urged, and slid around to cup his face. "It's all right… Logan… it's all over…"
"I had no right…"
"It's done, and I'm not sorry," she urged, then kissed his cheek. She pushed her way into his arms, and renewed the kiss. Wolverine groaned against the gentle gesture, then pulled her tightly against him.
"I don't even know your name…" he whispered.
"It's Michelle," she whispered, knowing her real name would mean nothing to him. Not anymore. Even mentioning her own name brought pain to her lips. That was the arbitrary name they'd picked for her, a name for that separate self that was savage and wild. Her gut instinct told her that 'Logan' wasn't really his true name, that he had a long forgotten human name like she had been Mariko Yashida. Vaguely the name James Howlett fluttered through her brain, but she was beginning to think that that man never existed. Just another misidentification from a tag long discarded.
New names for new identities. Yuriko Oyama had been Deathstrike, while Betsy Braddock was now Kwannon. Shiro was Sunfire, as Graydon Creed Senior was now known as Victor.
"Michelle… I'm Logan," he whispered. "I'm just sorry we met like this… I… damn…"
"I knew your name from before," she whispered, reaching for his tags.
English names that were mockeries of the codenames on the tags that jingled around her neck. He caught the dog tag serializing her, and shook his head. "Yum-yum," he mumbled. "What the blazes sick humor is that."
"Sabretooth's idea. Wraith's given such names to the others. Pitty-Sing is Braddock, while Peep Bo is Yukio. Shiro is Nanki-Poo. Someone's a Gilbert and Sullivan fan…"
"What the blazes?" he laughed harshly.
"Mikado," she whispered. "Stereotypical misnomers for Japanese culture."
"I'm sorry, Michelle, I wish I could do something to make this up to you," he whispered, knowing that was a name she had picked out because it seemed as instinctive as Logan was to him. He turned over the dog tag and saw the letters Michelle N.L.N. Just as his said N.F.N. Logan.
"We'll get through this, Logan-san," she said, fingering his face, smearing with her blood, and cuts that were healing rapidly.
"They wanted me to mate with you… so you'd have a baby, right?" Wolverine asked quietly. Sighing, he pulled her to sit on his lap, and then lay back in the pile of bedding. He tugged the shreds of her lab coat overtop to cover her like a blanket. Michelle buttoned the lab coat around her, and laid her head on his chest.
"Better you than Sabretooth," she whispered.
"That sicko won't get his hands on you, I swear," he promised, kissing her softly. "Yer mine now."
"I'm glad," she murmured, caressing his chest.
"Michelle, I promise I'll get us out of here, and I promise they won't get any baby we have together," Wolverine whispered, kissing her softly.
"There's no guarantee," she whispered.
"It's too late, darlin'… I can smell that yer body's already respondin'…" he whispered, resting his hand over her belly.
"It's impossible, how can you even know at this stage… it hasn't even…"
"Healin' factor's in every cell of my body, Michelle," he explained, cradling her in his arms. "An' I noticed ya heal pretty quickly too… put that together an'… well the process goes quicker…"
"You can smell… the biological changes," she asked. "Kami… this is… horrendous…"
"Shh, relax… I'll protect ya, Michelle. I swear it," he murmured, kissing her softly. On the verge of humanity he clung, holding tightly to the woman forced to be his mate. She too gripped him, and wept for a child that she prayed wouldn't see what they had seen.