| Summary: Mystique rekindles her interest in Wolverine and
plays deadly games to capture him. |
|
| Mystique watched the
loving couple play with their young child. It was a touching
scene that began to incite a fury in Mystique's dark heart. It
nauseated her thoroughly. She had always been strongly attracted
to the feral man and had promised herself an opportunity to claim him
some day - if for anything, to add him to her long list of
conquests. But first, she had to get rid of her competition and
this was a game she would enjoy playing. She could kill two birds
with one stone, so to speak - get Wolverine for herself and get him to
join the Brotherhood. One thing Mystique knew was the protective nature of the feral parents for their offspring as well as for each other. She had to get the female alone – to fight her one on one. Defeating her would be the fun part and lay claim to Wolverine as her prize. Then, she would make him offer himself to the Brotherhood. She returned to Magneto's compound to begin plotting. Her mentor liked her ideas and agreed to assist her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mystique followed Panther and child one late afternoon as they walked down the street in town. She was lucky that she was upwind or the scent of the imposing threat would have alarmed Panther. Mystique signalled. Toad leaped out from the shadows scaring both adult and child. Sabertooth ran out from behind him and snatched up the child as Toad occupied Panther. The fighting would seem to go on forever and it soon became bloody and furious. Danielle managed to retrieve her child and shielded Jean Marie as Sabertooth pummeled her with blow after blow of his talons. Toad joined the attack kicking her down to the ground from behind. As the Brotherhood warriors beat her down, she tried to fight back while guarding her offspring. Panther called upon the local stray animals to help her. Dogs and cats from the alleys appeared and surrounded the opponents. Toad laughed and Sabertooth snarled in defiance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back at the School, Jean sensed trouble. She tuned into Danielle's mind seeing the fighting going on as Kurt quickly teleported to the scene to assist. Nightcrawler appeared, was handed the child and quickly teleported Jean Marie back to the mansion and into the safety of Wolverine's arms. Kurt was anxious to return to help Danielle. Claws appeared and the slashing began. A pack of dogs and cats attacked Toad, and with several strikes, Danielle put Toad out of the fight. Sabertooth was preoccupied with the constant pecking by a flock of pigeons. It seemed to be the end of the battle as Danielle started to run down the street towards her car. She knew she had taken an incredible beating feeling great pain of several torn muscles and internal bleeding. She needed time to heal. But, it was the craftiness of Mystique who stopped Panther before she could reach her vehicle. Mystique was as smart as she was deadly. Her knowledge of Panther went beyond the facts of her ability to heal and her response to situations through instinct. Mystique managed to outplay Panther as they battled, and she held Panther out in the open until Magneto turned up. Mystique stepped back allowing her leader to finish the job. Panther's adamantium skeleton was no match for Magneto's powers. The fight would end here. Danielle slumped to the ground feeling her ribs buckling under Magneto's power. The broken shards of bone and alloy pierced Danielle's lungs filling them with blood and she cried out in agony. Kurt tried to take Magneto's attention away from Danielle. When Magneto tried to attack Kurt, he would teleport around. Sabertooth was too slow to keep up with Kurt and didn't bother to try. Kurt dodged both Magneto and Mystique keeping them occupied until the other Team members arrived. Several local residents also joined in. They tried to fight off the Brotherhood, but to no avail. Kurt was surprised – it was the first time humans and mutants were fighting together. Jean sensed the trauma of the injuries as if they were occurring to herself. "Logan!" Jean called. Wolverine was panicked by Jean's outburst. "She's in big trouble, Logan!" Jean said of Danielle's situation. "I feel her. I am with her." "Where is she?" Logan asked angrily. Jean tried to focus. She closed her eyes tightly and sank into deep thought. The pain was intense and Jean began to feel faint. "She's across town. Mystique and Magneto...she's dying," Jean faded off dropping to her knees. Scott held her close. "But, she can't die!" Logan yelled. Logan's eyes narrowed with restrained fury – his heart breaking that his Danielle was in trouble and he wasn't there for her. Storm and Scott flew the jet in silence. Mystique and Magneto laughed as they disappeared down the alleyway. Now, it would be a matter of time before Mystique could make her move to capture Wolverine for herself and the Brotherhood. She knew Panther would die this time and Wolverine would be alone. The child was of no consequence in Mystique's golden yellow eyes. Danielle lay silent and still on the ground – her body damaged severely and not healing. Jean sensed the intensity of her injuries and knew deep down inside her gut that there was little hope of saving her. Danielle's healing abilities were unable to mend the crushed bones and alloy. Even surgery seemed out of the question. Danielle's pulse had all but faded away and her eyes were unresponsive to Jean's pen light. Logan crouched down by Danielle's side gently resting her in his lap. He held her close feeling the vibrant life slipping into death. She almost seemed to look into his eyes before heaving a final breath. Logan howled – his distressed voice filling the streets with the sounds of his pain and anger. The residents that had tried to fight realized that even mutants had feelings. Logan lifted her limp body into his arms and looked over the form that had been so full of life, passion, and love. Logan held her close and still not believing she was now gone. So many times he had escaped death and so she had once before. This time was different. He smelled death - it's distinct scent filling his nostrils. He turned to his teammates. "Fly us to Canada," he ordered. "Where in Canada?" Storm asked. "There is a place there that she loved," Logan replied blankly – his emotions hidden. They boarded the jet and Jean followed Logan's directions. The place was near Alkali Lake – a camping site along the water's edge where he and Danielle spent many of their getaways. The jet landed and Logan carried Danielle's body outside. The rest of the team followed but stayed back giving Logan some space. He sat down with Danielle's limp body lying across his lap and her face nestled into the crook of his neck. "I know how much you loved it here," Logan said. Jean began feeling his emotions flooding through the wall he put up. The team slowly approached him sensing his need of support and comfort. Scott laid his hand on Logan's shoulder remembering how Logan had tried to comfort him when Jean 'died' during the Alkali Lake mission a few years ago. Logan was silent and still, but Jean sensed his pent up emotions were slowly being freed. "She always loved it here," Logan choked out. "It's ok, Logan. We are all here for you," Storm said before turning to Jean and sobbing. "Do you want me to help you..." Scott trailed off knowing Logan was eying a place to bury her. Logan lifted her up and approached a tree that overlooked the lake. The scene before him was peaceful and beautiful. The lake waters were calm and there were flowers blooming all around. He turned his attention to the limp body that he held in his arms. "She would like it here," Logan said. He knelt down laying her body on the ground. The tears began to fall in silent expression of his wounded heart. "Logan, if you need us to do anything..." Storm began. His painful look was enough to know he appreciated her offer. Scott began cutting away at the earth with several optic blasts. As the team gathered around, Logan knelt down near Danielle. His finger traced the outline of her face. He sat with her unable to accept her death. Once her body is claimed by her new resting place, he knew he would have to let her go and return home to tell his daughter her mother was not coming home. How was he going to tell Jean Marie? She was still so young and wouldn't understand. He picked Danielle up again holding her close – there was no movement, no warmth, no response. She was really gone. Jean felt her neck for a pulse and nodded negatively. Tears began flowing freely again and this time from all team members. Scott approached Logan laying his hand on his shoulder. "Logan, you have to let her go," Scott said. Logan buried his face into Danielle. Letting her go was nothing he wanted to do. His hurt was voiced again and the birds in the trees flew away in fright. Jean, Ororo and Scott surrounded Logan. The solemn look on their faces mirrored Logan's expression of pain and loss. Logan kissed Danielle's lips one last time. Scott had prepared a grave for her and it was now time to say goodbye. Scott gently grasped Danielle's wrist wanting to pull her hand to his lips to kiss it. Ororo and Jean stroked Danielle's hair. Scott was unsure, but he thought he felt something. Scott tapped Jean's shoulder in order to get her attention. Jean grasped Danielle's wrist. It was hard to believe but it was indeed true – there was a pulse – a weak one, but it was nevertheless there. "Logan, I can't believe it but she's alive," Jean said softly. Logan raised his eyes to Jean – the look of shock obviously overtaking him. Was this some sick joke, he wondered? Jean would never do such a thing – he knew that in his gut. They all rushed inside the jet where Logan laid Danielle down in one of the chairs. Jean gently opened one of Danielle's eyes and flashed a pen light across it. Sure enough, her pupil dilated with response to the sudden flash of light. Logan grasped Jean's shoulder with enthusiasm and hope. The jet rocked unexpectedly. Storm cried out that Magneto was outside along with Toad, Mystique and Sabertooth. Magneto's powers kept the jet from being able to fly off. The X Team rushed outside to defend their jet and fallen comrade. Battle ensued. Optic blasts from Cyclops sent Toad onto his backside. Wolverine fought his primal enemy Sabertooth until Mystique knocked Wolverine unconscious. Storm tried to occupy Magneto with blasts of wind. Mystique maneuvered her way inside and stole away with Panther's body. As Cyclops, Storm and Jean were backed into the jet and trapped inside, Magneto and his Brotherhood made off with Panther and Wolverine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Logan opened his eyes. He was chained to a wall of metal. It was cold and dark, and he knew instinctively that he was in the fortress of the Brotherhood. He could smell Sabertooth – his scent lingered in Logan's nostrils so strongly that he memorized its distinctiveness from any other mutant or human he had ever encountered. "Wolverine," a familiar male voice sounded from the darkness. "What do you want with me?" Logan asked angrily. "At least this time, the focus is on you," Magneto said before laughing softly. Logan cocked his head and again began to struggle against the restraints. "You will never get free, Wolverine. Those restraints are made from the same adamantium inside you," Magneto said. Logan growled softly. "Intimidating sounds you make – they don't scare me," Magneto laughed. He raised his hand and pinched his fingers together. Logan could feel his body being squeezed from inside as if his ribs were being crushed. Then, the pain let up. "Would you like to feel what your feline friend felt before she died?" Magneto asked. "Why are you doing this to me? What the hell do you want?" Logan stammered out. "I wish to strike a deal with you. She lives and I will repair your precious Panther if you vow to join me," Magneto said. "She will never tolerate the procedure," Mystique said as she sauntered in. "You bitch!" Logan snarled. Mystique laughed. "You have only one love, Wolverine – yourself. No matter what, the animal in you remains a solitary beast," Mystique said. "Is that what you think?" Logan asked. "You can never change who you really are," Mystique giggled. "I have to say she is right. Even Charles Xavier knows this," Magneto said. "What are you trying to say?" Logan asked. "He knows everything about what you have been searching for – the mystery of who you really are has been known to Xavier since well before you were even brought to the School," Magneto replied. "Xavier knows everything?" Logan again questioned. "Xavier knows – he has betrayed and lied to you all this time, Wolverine. He has led you on wild goose chases for years now when all along he has had the information you have been desperately looking for," Magneto said. Logan's eyes narrowed. His heart pounded with fury. It was so loud that even Magneto could hear it. "Tell me what he knows," Logan ordered. "If I tell you, you must vow to join me. I will say this - knowledge of your past could change your entire life, Wolverine. Think about my proposal. Your feline friend doesn't have much time," Magneto said before leaving the room. Mystique walked over to Logan. Gently, she slid her scaly blue hand over his chest. He glanced down watching her hand slide over his sweaty flesh, but her touch didn't stimulate any response from him other than feelings of disgust. "This was all your doing," Logan said. "Yes...but it was for all of us. You know I can be anyone you want," Mystique said morphing into Danielle. "You can never be her and I would never want you – EVER!" Logan snorted in anger. "The war is far from over and we could use a warrior like you," Mystique giggled. "Never. I would rather die," he replied. "So will your precious Panther – if you don't join us," Mystique snorted while pulling a choker collar tight around Logan's neck. "Will ya free her if I stay?" he asked while trying to breathe. "Maybe. It all depends on how well you convince me you mean what you say," she said before walking to the doorway. Logan nodded affirmatively. He hated himself for what he knew he would have to do, but he loved Danielle too much to risk anything happening to her and he would give his life to save her. "That's the honorable soldier," Mystique said before leaving him. |