Chapter 6

The Birth of The Wolverine.

AN: Here we go, Now I got my computer back, I'm gonna pick up where I left off.

"Sara, if that's you, lemme start off with..." Jericho went for the door once he heard the knocking on the door in the Plaza hotel. he'd just finished packing it up for his return to Gotham. Talia was taking care of some things so he opened the door to see Sara who had tear stains on her cheeks. His eyes softened once he saw the tear stains. Had she been crying? what had she been doing since the docks?

"Mind if i come in?" She asked, sniffling a bit, "I just really need to talk to someone." Jericho stepped aside allowing her to come in. What was the reason behind it? He was about to find out.

"What happened?" Jericho questioned, sitting on his bed waiting patiently for Sara to recompose and tell him what happened since Nyssa freed her from her obligations of the League of Assassins last night.

"Well, it turned out Laurel wasn't exactly thrilled to see me as I thought." she explained, "She blamed me for everything. not only what happened these past few days but also for the last 6 years. she also that I stole her life when i snuck into Queen's Gambit."

"Sorry to that." Jericho expressed, placing his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, "But you have to admit, you kinda were expecting it right?"

"Yeah but... that it didn't make it any less painful to hear." Sara grumbled

"Just hang in there. Give her time, she'll eventually get over it." He advised,

"You weren't there, Jericho." She elaborated, "You didn't see the look on her face. she made it very clear that she doesn't want anything to do with me for the rest of her life."

"Did I say that it was going to be easy?" she shook her head no, wiping some more unshed tears. "Didn't think so. Look, I'm not saying that you should run away when things get bad. Stick around. There's gonna a time where she needs you. Trust me."

"Since when did you get so wise?"

"Since when did you get so emotional?" He returned the question, Sara sniggered given the mood that she was in.

"And Sara? Don't ever pull that stunt again." he warned her,

"I'll try my best." she told him which was all he could get.

Jericho was looking out at the sunrise on the rooftop for the last time in Starling City before heading back home. Home, the word related to Gotham seemed strange. Back then when he was growing up, Gotham was labored as the worst place to raise your kids because of the crime, corruption and the graveyards but now... if his mother was still alive, she would be content of what Gotham has accomplished over the years.

"Was wondering when you're gonna show up." he said, expecting to be Talia instead it was Oliver in his work suit which brought a genuine surprise to him. "What you're doing here?"

"thought that I need a change of scenery." Oliver shrugged as he went to stand next to him

"Wanna talk about it?" Jericho asked

"No." He shook his head, "not really." Jericho nodded in understanding as he dropped the subject.

"Everything's changed. Gotham's different now." Jericho sighed, "I keep thinking about my mom. if she would see where Gotham is now, she would be very proud. Mom was a very busy activist. she led organized protests, lobbying the mayor. she took me on a couple of protest marches. But I never really understood why back then. What it meant."

"Sara said your mom died." Oliver said remembering the background story Sara filled him in.

"She was killed during the Gotham Riots. Protest marches that went bad." Jericho told Oliver,

"That's rough." Oliver said, he couldn't imagine losing

"After that, I went into foster care, jumping from family to family with no more than few years until I turned 18." he continued,

"That was when you met your father?"

"Actually he sent me a letter. Told me everything basically about they. I went to Siberia and the first thing I did was to go to prison." he clarified

"You're kidding." he snickered,

"Nope. he sent Talia once he heard about my imprisonment. She gave me a way out so I took it."

"Why are you still a vigilante if Gotham's different now?" he questioned, "For the greater good, I mean."

"Because there's still work to do in Gotham, Oliver. And I vowed to continue her work. I owe her that much." He answered and right in that moment, Oliver saw through the street boy facade and found a war veteran who had seen too many deaths and horrors over the years. "But hey, I'll survive. that's we do."

"Survival's overrated sometimes. We need to live a little too."

"True." Jericho agreed, Another thing. I recognize the perfume Sara's wearing. Try to cover it a little better." he left the rooftop, leaving the billionaire playboy baffled and shocked of how Jericho knew about their renewed relationship.

"How did he..."

Two Weeks later.

"We did it Ms. Rochev. We've found him." Slade declared as he and Isabel were on each side of the unconscious Jericho who was lying on a gurney in a secluded room above Dr. Conner's lab.

"I hope you're right." she said taking a long look before glancing back at him.

"Don't have to. I knew it." Slade stated with confidence in his voice, they left the secluded room heading back to the Dr. Conner's Lab whereas the man was filling a tank with water to cool off adamanitum faster once it's bonded the subject's skeleton. It has some of most advanced tech instruments in the world waiting to be used. "Is everything set Doctor?"

"Yes, Mr Wilson."

"And the Wolverine serum?"

"It's in his blood stream now. I injected him with it when he was bought in. I also took the liberty to surgically insert the claws right between the knuckles with some adjustments. The Serum would be activated by a dose of adrenaline."

"Spare me the technicalities, Doctor. Is he ready for the bonding?"

"Yes."

Jericho stirred for a few seconds before opening his eyes. His vision was blurred before it became clear. He noticed that he was lying on some kind of a metal bed right below a water tank. The last thing he remembered was in a cab on the way back to Starling City Airport and then… nothing. He tried to think through it but he came back blank. and Talia? Where the hell is she? Is she ok? His thoughts were interrupted when a voice spoke.

"I see you're awake now." he whipped his head to see a man in his 50's wearing a lab coat along with a shirt and glasses walking down the stairs to him with a evil glint in his eye and he didn't like it one bit. What the hell is going on?

"Who are you?"

"Dr. Emil Conner." Dr. Conner introduced, "And have I been looking everywhere for you, Mr. Al Ghul."

"Where the hell am I? What's going on?" Jericho demanded, struggling against his restraints but failed miserably. it was tightened around his wrists and heels. How the hell does this doctor know about him let alone his name, his real name. he doesn't like him, not one bit.

"This." He motioned the high tech laboratory, "Is my lab. And you are a test subject."

"Test subject? Are you trying to turn me into some cheap knock off Frankenstein's monster because pal that's not gonna happen." Jericho spat, getting very pissed at this guy for kidnapping him and what looks like he's going some "When I get out of this i will shove my foot so far up your ass that you don't get to shit for a month."

"Mmm. he did mention your witty tongue." He remarked, "I've been studying you for some time. from your upbringing, your mothers death, the four years time in the League of Assassins with your incarnation in Arkham City, to 50 million dollar bounty put out by Ms. Quinn. You have been a very busy man which is why you are And as for The Frankenstein's Monster as you put it, I already have." He picked up a knife and stabbed Jericho's hand. He gritted his teeth in pain but it wasn't what was the most, what surprised him was in reaction, three sets of bone claws that were 9 inches tall popped out of his hand.

"What the hell?" he muttered, retracting the claws unwillingly. What did the doctor do to him while he was passed out? the thought of numerous possibilities just made his skin crawl but of course he didn't show that.

"This is just the beginning and you're about to part of something enormous." Dr. Conner stated, walking around him towards a work bench where there was a set of work papers and a small metal rock of some unknown alloy "The Bone claws are just preview of what's to come. I'm gonna make you indestructible but first I'm gonna destroy you. Remember the meteor shower in Russia last year?"

"Yeah, I remember." Jericho replied a bit confused but wearily.

"Well, i found it there." Dr. Conner walked back to him holding the meteor fragment and showed it to him."Thanks to my team, I managed to produce a metal compound so strong that you will be able to withstand anything. it's called Adamanitum."

"Adamanitum? are you gonna coated my entire body with it?"

"Simply put, yes. but I'll only coat your entire skeleton. However you may suffer a sever case of Metal Poison due to it. But I made sure of that you won't die of it."

"What did you do, doc?" Jericho demanded

"Well, you're about find out, right now. Any last words?"

"Go to hell."

Dr Conner turned around to face a covered up window and that's when Jericho knew that they weren't alone. Someone or somebody was watching them. "We're ready."

Slade, Isabel and Blood were in the observance room looking through the window to the lab. This is the breaking point. Millions of dollars invested into this project. This was their last chance. If this fails again, then the project is over. Slade was confident that Jericho would survive. he've seen him in action Isabel though was impatient because she put most of QC's resources into this operation while Blood was skeptic considering the past failures but he was willing to look past it for this tonight.

Dr. Conner along with Dr. Andrea Frost and a handful of handpicked scientists were standing behind a set of panels ready for the final stage of the operation. it was time. Jericho was still in the metal only now he was wearing nothing but boxer shorts and a oxygen mask on his mouth. Paul Reynolds was enjoying this moment because this is what he's been waiting for 8 years. when he was plotting his revenge against Jericho, he considered killing him but after meeting up with Conner around he was disowned, he thought against it and on the long run he made a good decision. This was way better.

"Ladies and gentlemen. We are about to witness medical history. Today we're gonna create the Wolverine." he declared, "We're gonna bond the Adamanitum to his skeleton. Dr. Frost, lower the test subject to the tank."

"Yes, Doctor." Frost pressed a button which lowered Jericho into the tank submerging him completely in water.

"What is the temperature of Adamantium?" Dr. Conner asked,

"Steady at 8211 degrees." one of the scientists informed, the sharp needles was being filled with the hot liquid of Adamantium from a storage tank and sunk into the water themselves. They were lined up on different points of his body; three of them were just above his head. He's suffered some gunshots and knifes but never in his life has he suffered through this. The needles begun to spin.

"Feed lines clear?"

"Lines one through twelve clear."

Jericho knew, just knew in that frightening moment he had just entered hell.

"Inject!"

The twelve needles pierced through his skin into bones including his skull. Jericho writhed in pain, it felt like he took a dive into hot lava multiplied by 100. No word can describe the agony and pain he's going through right now. in the pain he was suffering, his life was flashing before his eyes literary.

"You're my brother, Jericho."

"Jericho!"

"Body temperature is 1.0.8 and rising." Dr. Frost informed, 50% of his skeleton is almost covered, 50 to go including the claws. By now, Jericho was convlusing very badly as his muscles coiled and uncoiled.

"Slade, why does he react like that? Why isn't he sedated?" Isabel asked,

"Anesthesia won't work on him once the Wolverine serum has entered his blood system." Slade informed,

"Heart rate 190. 195."

"Will he survive?" Blood questioned,

"Yes."

"Son."

"Heart rate beyond maximum." Dr. Frost reported

"Blood pressure?" Dr. Conner demanded,

"260 over 180."

"He can make it. He will make it." Slade hoped,

"How about this!"

"I am nothing like my Father."

"Barbara!"

"I love you."

At the sound of Barb's voice, a smile crept on his face despite the state he was in. right then and now, his eyes rolled back, his eyesilds closed as his heart gave out and the only sound that was echoing through the lab was the sound of the heart monitor gone flat. The Adamantium that has now been coated into his skeleton is now cooling off including the claws Dr. Conner waited for him to wake up for a few minutes but nothing happened. they failed, again.

"So much for hoping." Isabel deadpanned shaking her head, this was a waste. Millions of Dollars down the drain.

Dr. Conner hung his head in anguish, they were so close but yet so far. It was all in vein.

But then… beep, beep. Beep, beep. Dr. Conner turned around with renewed hope in his eyes.

"What in the hell?" Isabel spoke for everyone as they watched Jericho's heart rate slowly but surely rising.

"Heart rate is back to normal." Dr. Frost whisper in awe,

"Adamanitum reservoir is depleted." One of the scientists reported,

"No rejection. Procedure completed." Another scientist added,

"We did it." Conner said, "We did it." he slammed his hand down on the panel, startling his team, but for a good reason. Project was finally, finally a success. Now they can continue with the project as planned. it took 3 years to find the perfect subject. This caused for a celebration!"Yes! We did it."

"Hey, Doc?" Paul said as he appeared behind him, "Not to ruin your parade or anything, but what should we do with him?"

"Well, Now we begin phase two. He'll be deadly when i'm done with him. But first we should erase his memory."

"Like Hell they do." That was the first thought that came into Jericho's mind once he opened his eyes as he came back from the dead. his hearings picked up the talk, They were going to erase his memory and turn him into a mindless animal? Oh, no, no, no. Not gonna happen. And as for Paul, that vindictive, manipulate son off. He should've known what he was up to no good. He'll get what's coming to him but first, he's gonna break out of this hellhole.

Jericho's back arched as he spitted out the oxygen mask breaking the needles on his body and desperately struggling against his restraints. The claws that were bone now coated in adamantium, drew out of his clenched fists. That caught the attention of Dr. Conner and the others. it doesn't sound be good.

"I think he heard them." Isabel revealed watching the interaction, Jericho broke his hands free and soon after that his legs. And from the water came the Wolverine roaring in its mighty with his claws out. Not as Jericho Brown, not Al Ghul or The Son of the demon. He's now The Wolverine.

"Paul, No!"Dr. Conner objected as Paul pulled out of a gun and fired point blank to the head only to bounce of the skull that is now metal. Jericho growled as if it didn't effect him, in fact it only angered him, his eyes turned a deep green before returning back to it's original color. So Dr. Conner did the only thing in a situation like this.

"Lockdown!" Dr. Conner commanded, Jericho got out of the water tank and ran over to the door avoiding the bullet rain from Paul as he got to the corridor and picked up the scent of incoming guards. Great, here comes the calvary.

"Keep your guard up. He's here somewhere." one of the guards informed, looking at every corner of the corridor. what they didn't expect , was Jericho jumping down from the sealing and killed the two guards by sinking his claws into their skulls. He then punched through the third guard's chest killing him instantly.

Jericho could care less about killling which strangely felt good somehow, all he cared about was to find a exit. So he picked up where he left off.

"I want him alive! Find him!" Dr. Conner demanded, fuming over the escape of Project Wolverine and the guards was suffering the wrath of the Doctor. "I don't care what it takes! I want him Back! You hear me!"

"Yes sir!" the guards obliged

"Get out of my sight!" he dismissed them. He was obviously in a foul mood and he wished not to be disturbed. he's got to recompose and think this through. Go for Plan B, if there is one.

"That was entirely unexpected, wasn't doctor?" Dr Conner turned around to see Slade Wilson with somewhat amused look on him which confused him for a moment or two.

"Look, Mr. Wilson. I'm sorry about this. But I promise you, I will bring him back." He vowed,

"I'm sure you will." Slade said, "But... If you really want to find him, you got to know where to start. Do you understand what i'm going with this?" The Doctor shook his head not getting what Slade was going with, so Slade patiently explained to him, "His family. He'll do anything for them and that will be his downfall."

AN: There! That should do the trick. Here's another preview from the next chapter.

"That's a lot of blood." He turned around to see Barb wearing a white night gown with a disapproving look. "I thought you were done being a killer."

"These guys didn't… give me much of a choice." He defended, getting weaker within every second, she tilted her head unconvinced by the excuse.

"There's always a choice. It's not that hard to make." She stated, "Don't be like your father." Then she vanished into air, Jericho started to be dizzy due to massive blood loss from his gun wound and then he fell down to the ground.