Wolverine #3: Apocalyptic Events Part 1: Preserving Memories

Alberta, Canada 1992

"He's here somewhere," says Charles Xavier as he moves along the woods in his wheel chair.

"There's a strange metal source coming from that direction," says Eric Magnus. "It would be wise to check it out."

Xavier and Magnus go in the direction of the strange metal source that was picked up by electromagnetic fields. Charles Xavier is one of the world's most powerful mutants that can use telepathy to read and control minds. Eric Magnus has the ability to create electromagnetic fields and control metal. Together they formed a school that focuses on helping mutants control their powers, which is why they're here in the woods of Alberta, Canada. As they make their way through the woods, they come a across a man eating animal that he had attacked himself. The man looks at Xavier and Magnus and just stares.

"This must be who I've been detecting," says Xavier. "What is your name?"

Xavier asks the man who could only be none other then Wolverine. Xavier moves his wheelchair forward a bit. Wolverine becomes scared and he jumps to strike Xavier with his claws. Magnus uses his powers to hold the mutant with the adamantium skeleton in the air.

"It seems his entire skeleton has been grafted with a metal," says Magnus. "I don't believe it to be a mutation."

"Indeed. He has been someone's experiment," says Xavier.

"Charles, put him out. The sooner we get back to Westchester the sooner we can learn about him," says Magnus.

Westchester, New York

Wolverine is tied down to a chair, while Professor Xavier sits in front of him in his wheel chair. Xavier scans his brain with his power of telepathy. He sees the events that occurred long ago in Canada between Logan and the Weapon X program. He sees Logan marrying Mariko who he had met in Japan five years before Kirkia was born. He sees through Logan's eyes watching Kirkia grow up and then the final day with his family. Xavier unlocks the memories that were hidden from Logan and he leaves his mind.

"His name is James Howlett, but went by Logan," says Xavier. "His life has its bad moments. One in particular probably will have lasting effects."

"So, he's been scarred for life," says Magnus. "It is nothing compared to what mutant kind has gone through since the Homo sapiens discovered us."

"Eric, we can't force a life of fighting our oppressors on him," says Xavier. "We don't have the right."

"Charles, if we do not build our forces we will lose the oncoming war," says Magnus. "We must have him fight for us!"

"I will not have it," yells Xavier. "Mutants and Humans will learn to co-exist. You are so caught up in a war that hasn't even started yet to see what you're doing. You would send this man into battle to slaughter every human you point out and it would all be for mutant freedom. In the end you would be no better them."

Magnus leaves the room after their argument. Xavier looks at Logan.

Xavier narrates: It's no lie that normal humans have been discriminating against mutants. I've seen many things running this school, had many students. They all have had some trauma, whether it's watching your parents die in a plane crash or watching your enemy slaughter your family. Life is hard, but you can't let hard times keep you down. Hard times will not make me send this man into battle for a meaningless cause. I have been friends with Eric Magnus for sometime now, but I feel that we no longer share the same ideals.

Somewhere in Egypt

"Where are you going you fool," asks the man known as Bullseye. "This place is rigged with traps."

"These ruins can't possibly have anything that can stop the SCORPION," says the Scorpion.

"Oh, will you just keep quiet," yells Bullseye. "I won't have you screw this up. The Kingpin entrusted us with this mission and I plan on seeing it through."

"What is it we're going after anyway," asks Scorpion.

"It's a stone in the shape of a heart," says Bullseye. "It is said that it once was the heart of an Egyptian king, the great pharaoh En Saba Nur. He was nicknamed, Apocalypse, by the slaves when he brought the downfall of Egypt. The heart is supposed to have great powers."

"Well, this is gonna be easy. You think they'd guard it better," says Scorpion.

"I'm sure it's guarded," says Bullseye.

Scorpion steps on some tripwire, which sets of a trap of flying darts. "What…," mutters Scorpion.

He sticks his long tail in front of him and fires acid at the darts. The darts melt with contact of the acid.

"I told you to watch where you step," says Bullseye. "Let's keep going and stay behind me. I don't want you messing this up."

Tomb of Apocalypse—Somewhere in Egypt

"My lord I can sense it," says a man in a strange orange robe. "The heart has activated. Your resurrection will come to be."

A set of lights appear in front of the man in orange. "Exodus," says Apocalypse. "Bring it to me and destroy anyone who has it."

Westchester, New York—A Few Days Later

Xavier narrates: It took some time to put his memories back in place, but he should be able to awaken now.

He uses his mind to awaken Logan. He begins to awaken.

"Hello, Logan," says Prof. Xavier.

"What… Where am I," asks Logan.

"My name is Charles Xavier and you're at my school for the gifted located in Westchester, New York," says Prof. Xavier.

"Westchester," says Logan. "The last thing I remember, I was in… I was in…"

"Along with a colleague of mine, we found you in the forests of Alberta, Canada," says Prof. Xavier.

"Canada," mutters Logan. "Why am I tied down to this chair?"

"It is for the safety of the students," says Prof. Xavier. "A lot of things have happened, Logan. Do you know what the year is?"

"Nineteen-ninety," replies Logan.

"Your mind was lost for sometime. The year is nineteen-ninety two," says Prof. Xavier.

"Ninety-two," mutters Logan. "That would make Kirkia seven years old."

"Kirkia… You don't remember what happened in the city two years ago do you," asks the Professor.

"What happened," asks Logan. "Is Kirkia all right? Mariko?"

"Logan, they are dead," says Prof. Xavier.

"Dead," mutters Logan. "No."

The memory of Kirkia and Mariko dying begins to flash through Logan's mind. "NO," yells Logan. "They killed her!"

"Logan, I can help you find the people who killed your family, but I need your help," says Prof. X. "I can't seem to unlock the location of the organization who did this to you."

"Weapon X," mutters Logan. "I don't know. I don't remember."

"They might have thought it would be safe if they erased that from your memory completely," says Professor X.

"Then there's no way to find the killers of my family. I can't even find their bodies to give them the proper burial," says Logan.

"I can't make you any promises, but I will help you find this Weapon X when we find more information," says Professor X. "For now, I would like to offer you to stay here at the school. I'll give you a tour and explain what we do."

Professor Xavier lets Logan loose and takes him through the mansion that is the school for gifted youngsters. "Here at the institute we shelter young mutants that have become outcasts in society. We teach them in the general studies as well as teach them how to control their powers. There are some mutants out there like my colleague Magneto, who believe a war between humans and mutants is coming. I on the other hand believe that mutants can co-exist with humans, we just need to work on our relationship. I fear things maybe getting worse since Magneto has been gathering rogue mutants to form a team," says Professor X.

"You've saved me and help me with my loss," says Logan. "I will stay and help with your cause."

"Then it is settled," says Xavier. "There is nothing happening now on the mutant relations situation, so we should take the time to work on finding the murderers who killed your family. Is there anything you can tell me about them?"

"Well, they had razor sharp teeth, razor sharp claws and a stench that would make any normal man fall to his knees," says Logan. "They're mercenaries for hire that never have a second thought about killing someone."

"What else," says Xavier.

"They're both mutants," says Logan.

"Mutants," says Professor X. "I have just what we need to find these killers."

Cerebro

Professor Xavier leads Logan to the giant room that has the machine known as Cerebro.

"Welcome to Cerebro," says Professor X. "It is here where I located you and many other mutants. What were the names of the two mercenaries? I will attempt to pick up there brainwaves."

"Sabretooth and Deathstrike," replies Logan. "Their mutation is rapid health regeneration like mine."

"I will search for them now," says Professor X. "Wait outside while I search for them."

Logan steps outside the room. The doors close and Professor X goes to work.

Xavier narrates: There are many mutants out there now. Finding two specific ones would be hard, but I've never had a problem finding someone. This mutant here is a teleporter named Kurt Wagner and over here is Jubilee a girl with the powers to make molecules explode. Neither of them are who I'm looking for, but their brainwaves are very active today, above most other mutants. There in Egypt… Sabretooth and Deathstrike are in Egypt. They're on a mission of some kind, but I can't pick up any other information. The Weapon X program must have given them something to block out telepathy. Well I know they're in Cairo, Egypt. It's a start.

Professor Xavier comes out of Cerebro to tell Logan what he has found.

"Well," asks Logan.

"They're in Egypt. Something big is happening there," says Professor X. "There was mention in their thoughts about having to track down a bald man with a bullseye on his head and another with a tail."

"I have to get there," says Logan.

"Logan, you need some time to get adjusted to what your mind has been through," says Professor X.

"I'll be fine," says Logan. "Now I have to find a way to get to Egypt."

"If you must go now, then take my jet," says Xavier. "Come with me."

Xavier leads Logan to the entrance of the launch area. On each side of the door there is shelf built into the wall. "Logan, the costume we found you in was old and falling apart. You may choose another that will conceal your identity and make you the Wolverine once more," says Xavier.

Logan picks a yellow, blue, and black costume and then goes to suit up. "Wolverine, huh," says Logan. "That's the only thing I'll accept from Weapon X. I'm gonna slit their throats."

SNIKT!

To Be Continued…