Recruited
They sat in the damp stinking dirt floor cell for three days then they were hauled out, tied to a post, and waited for the firing squad to do their duty. Logan is pissed… fed up and angry that Victor had tried to rape a village girl then got mad when some other soldiers stopped him.
"See you in a few minutes, Jimmy." Victor says as he looks over at Logan. A wide smile on his face which flashes his fangs. This was all a big joke to him. Of course they were going to survive this firing squad. Hell! They'd been shot at more times than they could ever hope to count.
BANG!
The shots ring out and there is searing pain then a moment of darkness.
"Fuck me." Logan says as his breath comes rushing back and his eyes snap open. He can hear Victor laughing beside him.
"Is that the best you've got?" Victor taunts.
BANG!
The shots ring out again. Pain and darkness again… then the rush of breath from reawakening… and Victor is still laughing… yet again.
"Dammit, Victor just shut the hell up!" Logan says snapping angrily.
The two brothers are taken away and chained up to a cement wall in the jail on base. There they wait for what feels like a week before he came. The door is opened and the light blinds Logan as the authoritative young man enters dressed in his finest military garb with medals gleaming.
"Greetings, gentleman. I'm Major William Stryker… I am to understand that you killed your senior officer out in the field." Stryker says looking at Victor.
"Let's just say, I have a problem with authority." Victor says with a smirk.
"Can it, Victor." Logan says to his older brother then returns his attention to the Major standing in the door.
"The Warden says your sentence was carried out at ten hundred hours. How did that go for the both of you?" Major Stryker then asks as his eyes dart between the two men.
"It tickled." Logan replies sarcastically.
"Fascinating. I have an interesting proposition for the both of you. Do you want to get out of this cell before they figure out some devious method that will actually kill you?" Major Stryker says with a soft disarming smile.
"What's the catch?" Logan asks as he gives this fancy military man a weary eye.
"You see, I'm putting together a special team with special privileges. You have remarkable skills. Why not use them to serve your country as you were meant to?" Major Stryker says still smiling. Victor simply watches and listens as he pets a rat that is sitting on his lap.
"For how long?" Logan then asks and watches Major Stryker closely.
"We are going to be making the world a better place." Major Stryker says spouting some bullshit that Victor huffs at.
"For how long?" Logan asks again and his voice is sharper and more aggressive.
"For at least ten years… then you are free to continue or leave." Major Stryker then says as the smile leaves his face and his mouth sets into a hard line.
"Ten years?" Logan then asks to clarify.
"Yes." Major Stryker says simply as he eyes Logan.
"Alright, you've got yourself a deal." Logan then says seriously. "Now how's about you get us out of these chains." Logan then says and shakes his wrists to emphasize his request.
Three years pass, and the two brothers have run several missions… most have been surgical strikes against various threats to America and her interests. Now they are on their way to Africa… Lagos, Nigeria to be exact. Some local warlord turned diamond tycoon thinks he can threaten the good ol' U.S. of A. for some dumbass reason that Logan half paid attention to. So here they are on a plane with a few other guys of 'unique talents' like themselves.
Some of them, Logan and Victor have run missions with… like the silent Asian man seated towards the cockpit checking his many hand guns is known as Agent Zero. He's Stryker's right hand man and his talent is that he has uncanny accuracy. The young, dirty blonde man sitting across from Zero is a Brit named Bradley and he has a knack for controlling electricity, manipulating machines, and picking up radio communications like telepathy… all very useful talents, seeing as how he is flying the plane and communicates with base. The black man sporting a cowboy hat and the 'cool cat' attitude is John Wraith… a teleporter who was recruited a year ago. Things have actually gone smoother with him around.
Then there are the two new recruits. The first joined up before their last mission. His name is Fred Dukes and he has super human strength as well as being nigh invulnerable since bullets don't faze him, neither does a shot to the gut from a cannon or tank for that matter. Fred is something of a special case since he's fairly simple minded though he does follow orders without question.
Fred sits to Logan's right and he offers his pouch of chewing tobacco to Logan who just waves it away muttering a 'no thanks'. The second new recruit joined up just two days ago and he sits right across from Logan and Victor, sharpening one of his pair of katana blades on his lap. Logan started shaking like a leaf as soon as they got into the air and now he looks at the new guy with his sword out like he's crazy. He can't focus beyond the constant sliding scrape of the honing stone going down the sword's edge.
"Go to your happy place." John Wraith says in his cool smooth voice. His Texas accent comes out as he talks to Logan.
"Happy place?" Logan asks skeptical then shrugs.
"Afraid of dying?" Agent Zero says mockingly. Logan levels a cold glare his way.
"No. I just don't wanna be impaled by the new guy's sword." Logan says gruffly.
"Wanna know why I love these swords so much?" The new recruit then asks as he looks at Victor and Logan seated across from him with cheerful brown eyes. The plane then shakes from turbulence and Logan panics for a moment before things settle out.
"No, Wade… I don't want to know." Victor answers in annoyance.
"It's because they are so memorable." Wade says with an enthused smile to the menacing blonde man. "Whip a pair of these bad boys out at your ex-girlfriend's wedding, like I did, and cut off the head of the bastard she cheated on you with… and people are going to remember you. Now I know they're not like a gun, or bone claws, or the unkempt nails of a bag lady… but they are friggin' awesome." Wade then pauses and Victor flexes his fingers as they eye each other down. Wade's hand runs slowly over the handle of his sword ready to grab it at a moment's notice. Logan knows that look his brother is displaying… if given half a chance, Victor would grab this guy by his brown spiky haired head and smash it down hard until there was nothing but a mushy mangled mess left.
"Speaking of your nails… Your manicure bill must be a bitch." Wade then says breaking the tense moment. "Seriously though… you should paint those. I suggest pink… it's distracting as well as eye catching." Victor snarls and his eyes narrow as they are still locked upon this mouthy new recruit. Wade's brown eyes are full of mirth as he smiles merrily at the reaction he is getting from the usually quiet tall blonde. The plane shakes again and Logan looks like he's about to hurl.
"Scared?" Wade then asks Logan curiously though his tone is slightly mocking.
"No. It's just that if Man was meant to fly… then he would've been born with wings." Logan says with a quick upward glance at the handsome new recruit.
"No offense, I'm just concerned… Like I am about Fred's new tattoo. Fred?" Wade then says and looks at the other bulky muscular, blonde on the team. Logan looks to his right and notices the tattoo of a shapely dark-haired woman on his upper left arm.
"Jesus, Fred… you just met that girl the other night." Logan says as he tries to focus on something else besides the turbulence.
"I'm in love." Fred says matter-of-factly in his Midwestern drawl.
"Really?" Logan asks with a raised eyebrow.
"She's a gymnast." Fred replies and shrugs like that explains everything.
"Oh, boy." Logan says and puts his head in his hands.
"See? Concerned." Wade then says.
"Shut it, Wade." Major Stryker says as he walks through the seating area of the plane from the back. "We're here. Bradley… take us down."
"Yes, sir." Bradley answers and then focuses and the plane turns to go into a landing pattern.
Forty minutes later, they are walking through the slums of Lagos and the group of rag-tag members stops to take notice of the large twenty story building before them that looks like a big cement block with a high fence of razor wire and electrified fencing all the way around.
"Zero, time to knock on the door." Major Stryker says and the Asian man in grey combat-camo clothing and bullet-proof vest walks forward into the beam of the two flood lights that are on the gate houses. There is some shouting in a language that Logan doesn't know nor understand, but he gets the jest of it meaning 'Stop! Or we'll shoot!' or something like that. Zero calmly continues to stroll up with his hands behind his head as four men in rags with AK-47's start running towards him. Zero then grabs the pair of pistols hidden in holsters on his upper back.
He fires twice from both guns and the four men drop dead with holes right between their eyes. Zero then rushes forward and fires a few more shots taking out guards in the towers at the gate and one mercenary who starts firing a 50 cal from the back of a heavy military style truck which as soon as he is hit, fires in a downward line at his fellow mercs standing behind a wall. Victor sees his opportunity and rushes ahead on all fours. He leaps into the air slashes out the throat of a guard who gets in his way then scales the tall cement building quickly.
"Fred." Stryker says and Fred Dukes looks at the busy open dirt yard behind the fence and sees a tank drive up to reposition.
"The tank?" Fred asks more to confirm than question. The muscular blonde man hurries up to the barrel of the tank's cannon and he rams his fist in just as it fires. His bullet-proof skin causes the round to rebound and explode the tank. What's left of the guards scatter and the group minus Victor make their way inside. Wraith and Logan quickly dispatch any mercs in the lobby as Bradley opens the elevator doors.
Soon the six men are standing inside and start going up to the top floor. The music is some god-awful chiming tone and Logan sighs wishing for the elevator to hurry up… but suddenly it stops and the lights go out as the power is cut to the ascending box.
"Great… trapped inside an elevator with five grown men all on a high protein diets… Dreams really do come true." Wade comments. Logan's had about all he can take of this smart ass.
"Jesus Christ! Do you ever shut up?" Logan asks as his anger flares.
"Not while I'm awake." Wade answers calmly with a smirk.
"Logan. Wade. Stand down." Stryker says reigning in Logan and silencing Wade.
"Sorry, Major. It's just that the light… or lack there of… brings out the seriousness in your eyes. I can't help but stand in awe of it." Wade then says in an apologetic tone.
"I'm mean it, Wade. Silence." Stryker says then turns his attention to the quiet blonde. "Bradley if you would please."
"Yes, sir." Bradley replies and focuses then the lights come back up and the elevator starts moving again.
"Alright, Wade. You're up now." Stryker says as everyone moves to the side. Wade unsheathes his swords and rolls his head and shoulders as he pumps himself up for what is to come.
"Let's do this." Wade then says and the door dings open… and suddenly several men with machine guns open fire. Wade twirls his blades around so fast, they appear as blurs and he catches every bullet with the edge of his swords. He even redirects those incoming bullets back at or towards the other gunmen in the room. He spins in time to deflect a bullet from a gunman next to the elevator which strikes another just to Wade's left. Logan comes out of the elevator and stabs that lone gunman with his bone claws while Wade turns and spins in the air to land with both of his blades plunged into the chests of two final gunmen. The sword-wielder looks up directly before himself to stare eye-to-eye with the diamond tycoon who slowly reaches under his desk to grab a sawed off shot gun.
"I wouldn't do that, Brother." Wraith says as he suddenly appears with gun in hand standing next to the seated black man who looks very surprised indeed.
"Everyone's dead who needs to be!" Wade says as he withdraws his blades and wipes them clean of blood before sheathing them upon his back. Major Stryker and the others in the elevator come out then.
"Excellent work. You'd be the perfect soldier if it wasn't for that mouth of yours, Wade." The Major says as he strolls up to Wraith and the seated warlord.
"Take the diamonds. Take them all! Just don't kill me, please." The warlord begs as he raises his hands over his head.
"We're not here for the diamonds." Major Stryker says as he strolls up to the desk with a smile on his face. The warlord looks very confused at that. Stryker then grabs a hunk of metal off the desk which is being used as a paperweight. "I'm after this… or rather where did you get it from?" Stryker then asks.
"It was a gift." The warlord says as he blinks back his puzzlement and calculating look enters his dark eyes.
"From?" Stryker then asks and waits expectantly for the answer, but the warlord is silent. "Fine then… Victor!" Stryker says and Victor busts in the window and comes in. He grabs the warlord by the back of his scrawny neck and shoves his head down hard upon the dark wooden desk. The dark-skinned man whimpers in pain.
"Let's try this again… from?" Stryker then asks once more and Victor lets the tips of his claws bite into the warlord's skin. Small drops of blood begin to appear as the man moans in pain.
"A small village… inland… three days drive." The warlord says panicking.
"Thank you… you've been most cooperative. Victor." Major Stryker then says and turns to leave with the others following close behind. Logan watches his brother smile wickedly as he digs his claws in and pulls the warlord up then slashes the man's throat with the claws of his free hand. Victor laughs as the man slowly dies with his life's blood pooling around his face on the desk. Logan recalls what Captain America had told him years ago… Victor was ruthless, savage, and bloodthirsty. Logan knew it was only going to get worse.
The team had taken some of the diamonds and undamaged trucks from the warlord's compound. They traveled for three days inland, deep into the jungle, where they came across a small village. Major Stryker had ordered the villagers rounded up in the large open field at the center of the village. The team stood around the perimeter save for Major Stryker, Wade, and Victor.
"Ask him where this came from." Stryker commands Wade and the tall man in dark red with twin swords strapped to his back speaks French to the village elder kneeling between him, Stryker, and Victor. The man replies and shakes his head. Logan can see the obvious fear playing across the elder's face.
"He says it came from the sky." Wade answers.
"Tell him to take us to it." Major Stryker then commands. Wade then speaks the Major's request and the old man answers shaking his head wildly back and forth.
"He says he can't. It's sacred to them." Wade then replies to the Major.
"Tell him if he doesn't take us now… then we are going to kill everyone in this village before his eyes." Stryker says with such coldness that Logan finds himself having second thoughts about being here. Killing soldiers and mercenaries is one thing… but innocent people who are unarmed… even children! Hell no! Logan tenses at how this may go. He finds himself silently wishing the old man takes them as Wade relays the threat.
"Sir, I'm getting a signal from Base. Do you want me to respond?" Bradley then says as Wade continues talking to the old man.
"No." Major Stryker says to Bradley. Suddenly, the old man shakes his head and starts yelling.
"He's refusing." Wade says not wanting to translate the rest.
"Victor." Major Stryker says and gives a hard look to the tall blonde man next to him. Victor smiles, flashing fang, and grabs the old man by the throat.
"Wait!" Logan shouts and Victor stops as the old man quiets in his clawed hands. "Stryker, we don't have to do this! We could search the jungle ourselves or-" Logan starts grasping at any idea to give the Major besides killing.
"Or what, Logan?" Stryker then says and Logan can't think of anything immediately, so Stryker gives his next command, "Kill them all!" Victor grins as he crushes the old man's throat. Wade draws his swords and attacks those closest to him, and Zero starts firing into the now fleeing crowd.
"NO!" Logan shouts and rushes Zero, tackling him down to the ground. Bradley and Wraith standby and watch the chaos ensue around them, neither fires their gun. Bradley looks more upset about this than Wraith who just frowns.
"We didn't have to do this!" Logan shouts angrily as he walks stiffly over to Major Stryker. "These are innocent people for Christ's sake!"
"They are withholding something that will help us keep America safe." Major Stryker starts. Logan throws up his hand to the Major.
"Enough bullshit!" Logan says roughly.
"Jimmy. This is our job… don't sweat the messy stuff." Victor says with an easy smile to calm his younger brother.
"Come on, Vic. We're leaving." Logan says to Victor then turns a hard glare at Stryker.
"I'm not going, Jimmy. I like this gig." Victor says as he stands his ground.
"Yeah, well I'm not staying', Bub." Logan then retorts.
"Are you really going to split from me, from your brother, over some dead natives?" Victor then questions.
"We're better than this, Victor." Logan replies and gives his older half-brother a hard look.
"Maybe you are, Jimmy… but this is what I do, what I love to do." Victor then says coolly.
"Fine." Logan says harshly and turns on his heel. He walks away.
"Don't walk away from me, Jimmy!" Victor shouts heatedly after Logan as he steps into the jungle leaving Major Stryker, the team, and even his brother behind. He doesn't need this moral quagmire. It's time to find peace for once in his life.