"Like it or not," Wolverine gestured to the ring, which was being swept for the next match. "It may actually be a shot at getting a little more information."

"It's dangerous, and barbaric," Scott argued. "You may really hurt—"

"Ahh, I won't kill 'em." Wolverine snapped. He was already pulling off his jacket, shirt, and gloves. "I've just been dyin' for a little action like this. See, I'll even do it without claws. I've got to look human anyway, remember? This crowd wants to see their own kind win."

Scott grabbed Wolverine's arm. "I can't let you. This is not part of our mission—" He was cut off when Wolverine grabbed him back---roughly.

"Get the hell off my back." Wolverine snarled treacherously. "I've been in cage fights before, and this is kid's stuff. I know what I'm fucking doing." He stuffed his shirt, jacket and gloves into Scott's arms. "Hold this. 'Most dangerous mutant on earth,' my ass. Get the hell outta my way, Scott. I've got a title to reclaim." And he leapt into the pit.

The crowd burst into a deafening cheer as Wolverine's feet hit the sand in the ring.

"WE HAVE A CHALLENGER!" The voice over the microphone thundered and in the crowd hands shot into the air as money rapidly began circulating.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Roared the sound system, "WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET THE BATTLLLLLLLLE BEGIN!"

The door in the pit wall swung open.

"MAY I PRESENT TO YOU THE UNDEFEATED CHAMPION AND MOST DANGEROUS MUTANT IN THE WORLD! …THE PIT BULL!"

The roaring crowd surely grew louder but suddenly Wolverine couldn't hear them. The pit door had opened and he found himself face-to-face with sharpest grey eyes he had ever seen, and they were cold as death.


"What the hell was that?" Jean could feel her face growing flushed with fury as she paced the cell, addressing the girl across the corridor. "Where are they taking her? What do they do with her?"

"She…she's one of the Boss man's pit fighters," the girl replied simply. "They set her against anyone that'll fight her, mostly it's humans wanna take a good whack at her, even though she's just a kid. But…don't worry, she's never lost. Wins the Boss man a lotta money, betting on her."

"She never loses?" Peter repeated incredulously, scratching his head. "That little girl?"

"See?" The teen began to laugh madly again, in great, heaving gulps. "You'd bet on the other guy, see? Boss man'd win your money!"

"A collar!" Jean spat, "CHAINS! What the hell is wrong with them! What kind of ANIMALS--!"

"Oh…I think the collar and chains are just for show," the girl answered, fidgeting her spindly fingers. "That kid's been injected like the rest of us, so she has to do what they tell her to, don't she. But she's dangerous. I mean…her wrists, she…well, she did that to herself."

"What?"

"I s'pose fightin' sounds easy," the girl continued nervously, dropping her eyes. "But killin' ain't, least for some. Either way, that ducky ain't got a choice. Fight or kill, whatever they tell her to do. I figure some days it seems like there's no way outta this life." She snorted a deranged giggle, but did not look up.

Peter and Jean looked at each other.

"Jesus." Jean sat down.