Chapter 7

The Breakout.

"Kuzuri. Do you know what that means? An animal. A Fierce creature with long claws and sharp teeth. It fears nothing." Tao Okamoto as Mariko Yashida, The Wolverine.

"Warning, there's been a breach in Sector 651. The facility is now under code red security status." Run. That was the only the thing that was on his mind right now. He wanted to get the hell out of the lab and fast. because from the soldiers that would tail his ass in a couple of minutes. After what seemed an eternity reaching the end of the corridor Jericho saw the exit but the only thing standing in the way was a small army of Dr. Conners men.

Knowing this was only way out of the hellhole, he charged against the goons whom opened fire. He suppressed the pain from being shot multiple times and drilled through them. Once the corridor was cleared, Jericho was the last man standing as his body rejected the bullets and the wounds healed. he wiped blood off his face. This is it; he made it. He kicked the door open and the first thing he saw was woods. He groaned inwardly, great. Just what he needed. He ran off into the wilderness not wanting to dwell on it.

"Viper 73. Project Wolverine is 200 clicks north of your position." Condor 17 informed,

"Roger." The command of Viper 73 received info and turned to his squad that had sent to the coordinates of their target. "You heard people! The chopper said the target is around here somewhere in this area. Let's go!" The Viper 73 team began searching the woods from pillar to post once they reached the location of Project Wolverine. they had the order to find him, subdue him and bring him back.

"Why is everyone so freaked out about Project Wolverine? He can't be no different than other freaks that tried to escape." one of the soldiers asked, "Don't be so sure about that. I hear that he's some kind of ex assassin."

"Nah, you got it wrong, I hear he's a ex con."

"Well, I heard that if you two Jarheads don't shut up right now, there would be two resignations on Dr. Conner's desk!" Command ordered,

"Sorry sir." The men wisely went quiet once they reached the location of their objective. They searched the area for a good 20 minutes in small groups from pillar to post before regrouping back with the conclusion that the target wasn't anywhere near the perimeter. The Command tapped into earpiece to contact Condor 17

"Condor 17. There's no sign of Project Wolverine. Are you sure this is the location where the target was?"

"Heat signatures are being shown on the scanner, Viper 73 command." Condor 17 reported,

"Roger. We'll keep our eyes open. Viper 73 command out."

"You don't have to look far." A new voice sneered and suddenly all Hell broke loose.

"HQ. Viper team made contact with Project Wolverine and they are suffering imminent casualties." Condor 17 reported as they watched Jericho turned into a human hurricane followed by a series of screams in agony from the members of Viper 73.

"HQ! Repeat! HQ! Requesting permission to retreat! Command demanded as he watched his men getting slaughtered by this… This animal. His men fired multiple rounds on the target and yet he wasn't fazed by it. he saw Project Wolverine rip one of his men's arm with his clawand used it as a bat swing to beat him into a blood p. Then he impaled another on a broken branch that was pointed through the chest and that point Project Wolverine turned himself into a human hurricane cutting the rest of his men's heads clean off. It was fucking horrifying. So he decided to do the right choice by falling back so he contacted HQ for help.

"Negative. The base is still under lockdown."

"Damnit! You can't leave us here to… Ack!" he was cut off with Project Wolverine heel kicking him, taking him off his feet. he landed roughly back first as the Wolverine roared as he stabbed him in the groin area. He bled out within minutes before he succumbed to his wounds. Jericho was the last man standing

"HQ! Consider Viper 73 to be KIA. Repeat All units dispatched to Sector 8 are Kia! What are our orders?"

"Initiate the bombing sequence. Level his ass."

"Roger. " Condor 17 began dropping bombs on Jericho's position and he ran as fast as he could from the bombs deeper into the woods. Condor 17 followed the heat signatures on the scanner as they bombarded the forest. With each bomb that dropped down, one was closer than last. Jericho jumped over some rocks and trees when the last bomb was released. This time though it got him. the blast from it sent him through trees before landing roughly on the soil. A set of trees landed on him.

"Yeah! Must've got him!" Pilot 1 exclaimed in celebration "HQ! This is condor 17! We got the son of a bitch!" he was about to eat his words as he saw some movement in the pile of trees.

Jericho groaned as he used his strength to get the trees off while his chest was gusted by the shrapnel began to heal.

"Holy shit! This guy won't quit!" Jericho pulled out a sharp piece of wood from his left thigh and pulled out another one from his ribcage gritting his teeth. if that didn't tick him off, it sure did now.

"HQ! Project Wolverine is alive! Project Wolverine is alive and on the move!"

"Hold your fire, Condor 17! Stand down and return to base immediately!"

"But sir!" Pilot objected

"That is a direct order! Head to base Now!" HQ interjected,

"Sir! Yes Sir." Condor 17 reluctantly turned around and headed back to base. Jericho was confused of the retreat. He would worry about that later though as he picked up where he left off.

"I'm taking a big risk here, Mr. Wilson. A lot of money had been invested into this and it would be a damn shame if you screw this up with your plan." Dr. Conner warned,

"You worry too much, doctor." Slade assured, "He's just an animal and animals like him just need a trap and the right bait. I just know how to lure him."

Paul Reynolds was whistling a song as he washed his hands clean from the blood at the sink after interrogating the prisoner if you put it in simple terms. It was a pleasant... experience to say the least.

"Well, it was a very bittersweet reunion don't you think?" he said to the captive who didn't respond. she just glared at this... vindictive duplicitous pig. " As much as I would love and sit here to chat with your a bit, I gotta make a phone call. But I'll be back" He went to the door as he was about to exit the room but he was about to say the last word to the prisoner "By the way, We fused the adamantium into your brother's skeleton. You should've seen him squirm." He laughed manically as he left the room pleased of his taunt.

"Oh brother."

"Alright, here we are. Glades. " The driver said as he parked the SUV outside of a street in the Glades. The driver spotted Jericho on the highway a few days ago, he told him to drive to Starling City but before he did that, Jericho asked the driver where he was and the driver told him that he was in Arkhansa. He offered Jericho a ride to Starling City which was a few days away and he granted him some new clothes on the way. The ride back to the city of stars was quiet.

"Thanks man." Jericho thanked the driver which he nodded quickly in acknowledgement.

"Don't mention, pal." He drove back to Arkansas.

"Home away from home." Jericho thought as he went to see Sara in the apartment that he went a few months back. He turned around the corner and walked up the stairs to the apartment building. He walked up to the first floor and knocked on the door to the right. after a few moments, the door opened to revealed a brunette in her 20, wearing black clothing. Her hair was short and she had the street kid attitude. Something that Jericho knows all too well, considering his background.

"You're not the pizza guy." She stated as if she was observing him.

"No. I'm something else. I'm looking for Sara Lance. Is she around?"

"Hmm…" she went in deep thought. "What's in it for me?" Jericho knew that she wants something for her cooperation, so he granted a 50 dollar bill for her pizza which she gladly accepted it. Why did he have a 50? That's for him to tell. "She works at the Verdant as a waitress. You should go there. My friend Roy works there. "

"Thanks." he thanked, mentally berating himself for not going there in the first place. He left the apartment building heading to Verdant. Unknowingly he was being watched by men in the SUV. They all wore black shades.

"We've found him."

Present.

"So let me get this right." Oliver's tried understand what he just been told from Sara of what just took place. Some of the guests called 911 after the brawl or rather the blood bath on Verdant which was banned for any civilians to enter except the police because of three bodies and either of them was Jericho. Speaking of him, to say he reappeared out of thin air was putting it mildly and the claws? That was totally unexpected. What happened to him? Thea was heading back to the Queen's mansion by Roy whom was told by Oliver to have a look out for Jericho.

"Jericho suddenly appeared at the bar after being missing for three weeks and three armed men showed up And that's when he popped his claws?" Oliver finished making a claw gesture with his left hand. Sara nodded a yes on that, he got it about it right.

"Are you sure that you're not exaggerating this?" Sara gave him an "Are you kidding me?" look and Oliver took the hint that she wasn't. he knew she wasn't anyway and it was a dumb question to ask quite honestly "Right. But seriously though, did you ask him what happened to him during the three weeks he was missing?"

"Don't know. Didn't have exactly the chance to ask him out before the men in black gatecrashed." Sara shrugged

"Well, we'll find him, Sara. Once we'd done that, he'll have a lot to explain himself."

"I hope you're right." just then Roy Harper stepped into the cave.

"Thea's back at the Manison. I Just heard from a friend of mine about this Jericho guy. he'd just dropped by her apartment and asked her about where Sara was in the afternoon." he informed, "But other than that, nothing. it's like he's vanished off the earth."

Jericho grunted, staggering against the dumpster in the alley as he pressed his hand against the wound on his chest that was dripping blood away from the crime scene and the sirens. Those guys were Dr. Conner's men no doubt back at Verdant. But how did they found him? And why did his men fall back at the woods letting him free? Everything was confusing at the moment.

He started to get weak as the wound started to get worse. He was shot during the fight and it was only after the fight that the side effects kicked in. What was the bullets laced with? Was it poison or something because it certainly was doing its number on him. He looked down at a pool of blood that had formed. His head started to spin.

"That's a lot of blood." He turned around and saw Barbara in a white gown with a disapproving look. Oh no, not now. What was she doing here? "I thought you were done being the killer."

"These guys didn't… give me much of a choice." He defended his actions, getting weaker within every second. Barb 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 thin air like a mist. Jericho started to be dizzy due to massive blood loss. Then he fell down to the ground, face first. His eyes became heavy, eye vision was getting fuzzy and before he blacked out he saw a blurred figure rushing to his aid.

The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes the next day was the ceiling. He blinked a few times to look around of the environment. He was lying on a bed in a guest room half-naked with stitches on the wound on his chest from yesterday was now healed. He moaned as he slowly sat up on bed. he felt like hell. The pain was gone but his entire body was sore. He saw his shirt and jacket on a chair. He went to put his shirt on slowly and left the guest room. He looked around the apartment to see where he was when he heard voices coming from the kitchen. He walked quietly to eavesdropping into the conversation.

"I know, Dad. But think about this, he is wanted by SCPD which means every officer including you is looking for him at the moment. He's not safe here."

"I agree. But we've already talked about this. I am not going to turn him in. He's an old friend of Sara's."

"Great, another assassin."

"Ex assassin." he clarified,"He saved my ass back when that assassin group kidnapped your mother. Besides, If Sara knew that I turned him in, I wouldn't hear the end of it. "

"Can we trust him?"

"Yes you can." Jericho said, causing them to turn around.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough." Jericho shrugged, "Officer Lance. Good to see you again." he then saw Laurel for the very first time. "You must be Laurel."

"Indeed i am. It's uh, nice to meet you."

"You too kid. How you're holding up?"

"Like I was hit by a truck." Jericho admitted, He then noticed some cuts on both of Laurel's wrists that were recent.

Laurel seemed to realize that and tried to cover it up. "It's nothing serious. Really, I'm fine." she glanced at her father. "I'll leave you two to it." she left the kitchen and headed to her bedroom to get a file that has been hanging for couple of months.

"Don't take it personal kid. She's got nothing against you. It's just… you may have cut her wrists once or twice while she was stitching you with your…" He trailed off in mid sentence not having the word to describe those... claw things. he hoped that Jericho would get it and fortunately he did.

"OH. Right." Jericho muttered as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. he cleared his throat to break the awkward silence that fell on them, "I take it you want an explanation about what happened."

"Crossed my mind." Lance said, "And before you start, I just heard from my contact at the forensic Lab that they id the bodies. Wanted mercenaries."

"Figures." He grumbled,

"So, wanna explain yourself?" his tone was stern and direct, Jericho knew that he wanted a straight answer

"They were sent by a man named Emil Conner. Don't know how they found me but they tried to bring me back and you can see I'm still here."

"Where did this Conner guy take you?" Lance walked over to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup of coffee while listening to the story.

"The guy who gave me the lift told me that I was in Arkansas It's possible that I was bought there." Jericho shrugged,

"By the same guy?" Jericho nodded yes, "Alright I believe you. Don't know why but… I believe you. So, you hungry?"

His stomach growled hungrily to answer his question, "Starving."

Laurel sat down on her bed in her room currently going through the file of Project Wolverine that was handed to her by Dr. Frost a couple of months at the DA's office before her resignation. She never really got the chance to take a look on because of drug abuse but now that she broke out of that addiction, she took the chance and to say that it had some very intriguing information was a understatement. It's got bank records of funding's coming from Queen Consolidated via a dummy corporation dating back to June last year. That was when Isabel stepped in as the acting CEO of QC and when Oliver went missing after The Earthquake in the Glades. Huh, Dr. Frost gave her enough info to prosecute

As she dug deeper into this issue, she found that Isabel started to fund the Project 3 years ago when she was the vice President of Stellmoor International at the time. And as for Blood, he started to fund the project around the time when he started his campaign for Mayor. She went to read about the origins and was amazed by the intel. It was originally a secret underground project run by the government during the Vietnam war to create the perfect super soldier serum. Supposedly it was designed to help the US Army to defeat the Viet Cong. But unfortunately it was proven unworthy because the formula was unstable and it had some nasty side effects.

The side effects are uncontrollable rage, personality alteration not to mention the strain on your psych health and having the predator instinct of a killer. But despite the side effects, it also picked up strengths of the drug. It increases your strength to superhuman, your stamina, speed and heightens your senses. It grants the subject a healing factor that allows the subject to heal from gunshot wounds, fire burns, poison. Everything you can think of. It was put on the backburner for nearly 4 decades until an man named Dr. Emil Conner revived it in 2011. He decided to refine the wolverine serum with some modifications. Laurel exhaled as she turned another page of the file. This was going to take all day.

The customers at Big Belly Burger were staring in shock and somewhat disgust at a man who was eating burgers, a lots of burgers like a savaged animal. It was obvious that he hadn't eat in days. they were part right.

"Slow down kid, you're gonna choke eventually." Lance grimaced, whatever happened to manners? Kids these days. Jericho looked up and gave him a offended look

"Well excuse me if my eating habits are making you uneasy, officer. I haven't eaten a proper meal for a while so forgive me for my manners." He moaned in delight as he took a bite of the double large cheeseburger and drank bit of Coke. Quentin's cellphone buzzed, he couldn't be more relieved of the timing. He took out his pocket and checked out he received a text from Sara.

"Is Jericho with you?" he sent a quick reply telling her that they're at Big belly Burger. He knew that Laurel told her about the guest.

"I'll be there. How's he like?"

"Just being the difficult patient."

"I hear that." he chuckled putting it back into his jackpocket.

Sara stepped into the restaurant 10 minutes later and saw Jericho eating himself to death. She shook her head at the scene laying out in front of her. She walked over to the table where Jericho and her father were sitting at. she told the arrow team about

"Hi Dad." She greeted her father, then addressed Jericho who just finished eating "Jericho. Can we talk outside?"

"Sure." Jericho got up from the table and went to Sara who silently thanked her father for keeping an eye on him. Quentin nodded in acknowledgement as he watched her youngest daughter and the man who was partially responsible for his daughters reconciliation. meanwhile one customer went to dial 911 on

"What in the hell happened?" Sara questioned, they were outside of the restaurant.

"I don't know. All I could remember was that I was on the way to airport and then I blacked out. Next thing I know was I woke up I was in a lab and they gave me this." Snikt! Sara looked at the extended claws coming out of his knuckles. She took a good look at it and ran her fingers on the claws. it was sharp and pointy.

"Does it hurt?" she asked

"Everytime." Jericho admitted, retracting the claws then he asked the question that has been lingering on his mind for days. "How's Talia? Is she…"

"She's alive. From I heard, she's recovering just fine back in Gotham." Jericho's mind put at ease once he heard the news, Atleast there was some good news. Then they picked up police sirens not far. So much for peace and quiet. "Come on, we should go. Now."

"I know. But I gotta make a phone call."

The phone ringed at the stand where Barbara was currently making lasagne for lunch in the kitchen of their apartment. She just put the lasagne into the oven when the phone called. Good thing that only it takes about 20 minutes or so. She rolled over to the hall and answered the phone.

"Yeah." She addressed, there was no response for a couple of seconds before she did anything with the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi Barb." Barb was frozen stiff at the all too familiar voice. Could it be? It had to be.

"Jericho?" Barb asked, her voice was a whisper, recovering from the intial shock. "Is it you?"

"It's me, sweetheart."

"Come home. Please." she pleaded,

"I will sweetheart."

"Wow. I mean. Really?" Oliver asked once Jericho told the story about his capture, the doctor and project Wolverine. He left out two things though. Paul and The Co CEO Isabel Rochev. During his breakout, he heard her voice behind curtain window. It would be for another time with Oliver and Sara in person not when there's two strangers. Not that he has anything against Felicity and Dig. It's just... a bit more personal.

"I know. I still don't believe it either." He couldn't blame him for being skeptic to the story. Hell, he still has a hard time believing

"This Dr. Conner? Are you sure that he's behind all this?"

"I'm sure. He sent his dogs out on me when I broke out of his lab. They've been following me for three days."

"Felicity." Oliver said, already making up his mind. "Do a background check on Emil Conner. Also Look into Project Wolverine. If it is anything Jericho say it is, we got trouble."

Felicty didn't waste any time as she went into the computers and started typing on the keyboard to check on the biography of Emil Conner and info on the Wolverine Project. She was in complete hacker mode.

"Emil Jonas Conner." she began, "Born in Ireland 1959, immigrated to US at the age of 2. Grew up in a small town in Arkansas. Top of class at his high school. Went to Harvard and got a masters degree in biology and science. He worked at private companys before starting Conner Labs in Arkansas. Well respected."

"No surprise." Jericho mumbled,

"But." Felicity wasn't finished, there was more to it. "Here is where it gets interesting. Apparently a few years ago, he agreed to a partnership with Stellmoor International, Science division. Guess who personally signed the contract with Conner Labs. Isabel Rochev."

"Rochev?" Oliver asked surprised at the information, Felicity pulled out of a copy of the contract that has Isabel's and Conner's signatures. It was genuine.

"Yes. Apparently she and Conner went way back. Guessed you should've trust your mother a little more ." He frowned with some gilnt in his eyes, this was one of those "I told you so." moments. He hates those."Just saying."

"Alright. Now we got that covered, did you find any about Project Wolverine?" Jericho asked

"No. It was a dead end. I tried to use different decryption keys but it was marked as confidential by The Man."

"Crap." Jericho muttered. That was not he wanted to hear.

"Not quite." Sara spoke up, they glanced at the former League of Assassins member curious of what has she to say.

"There's a file in Laurel's bedroom. I've took a peak at it a few days ago. I didn't figure that it was important but now after Jericho's just told us... we might some info. "

"What are we waiting for then?"

"Agent Michaels. Welcome back. How was Eastern Europe?" Amanda Waller, the leader of ARGUS greeted one of her top agents Lyla as she entered her office in ARGUS Headquarter

"It was fine. You wanted to see me?" Amanda turned her computer screen to show security footage from a night Club in Starling City where a man brutally stabbed another man in suit with Long sharp claws coming out of his knuckles in the stomach before impaling him on the chest. He then threw the deceased away as the second man in suit tried to attack him but he ducked the punch and thrust one of the claws into the throat. she could literary hear bones cracking and ripped his head clean off. he then turned around only to be shot in the chest. surprisingly he stumbled back a few feet before he stabbed the hand and thrust it into the chest. he used it to lift him off his feet and broke his neck with his foot without looking.

"You got a new assignment. Code name: Wolverine."

UH Oh, Looks like the word is spreading faster than fire. And what is Slade up to with the knowledge of Jericho's history? Who is the prisoner that Paul just "interrogated"? Well, we'll find out very soon. Here's a preview from the next chapter and the following chapter. See you soon.

Everything happened in a blur as he looked back at the turmoil that just started, breathing heavily. The head of security was being killed and he turned back to see the fake cop ripping his uniform to reveal his entire body has been covered with tattoos. That only meant one thing, Yakuza.

"Why did you save me?" Lyla asked Jericho taking a moment to recover from the fall.

"You're no good to me dead." Jericho pointed out, that and Diggle would be pissed if something bad happened to Lyla. "I need info on Conner Labs."

"Why?" she questioned,

"Because I'm looking to find Dr. Conner, Deathstroke, Reynolds and end them."

"A lot of our agents have infiltrated the Lab and they have all died."

"Well I got an edge." He popped his claws out to demonstrate his edge.