Primal Urges

Sorry about the lengthy time between poostings, but my betas have a lot of stuff to read and edit between their own stuff and this monster of a story I wrote!

I will try harder to be more timely, so please hang in there with me...:)

As always...the '' means a thought.

Part Fifteen

“What’s wrong? Why did ya’ come back in hea’?” Rogue asks when she sees Logan and Ororo coming back inside.

Logan squeezes Ororo’s hand before he tears off down the hall, heading towards Xavier’s office. Rogue sees the anger on ‘Ro’s face, “What happened?”

“Logan sensed Sabretooth out there…they’re out there.”

Rogue takes her hand, “You’re safe…Logan’ll keep ya’ safe…”

“He shouldn’t have to…” she whispers as she looks into the girl’s face. “I’m fine, really. I just don’t want Logan to do anything desperate.”

Rogue stares at her strangely, “We’re talkin’ about Logan hea’.”

They both just stare at each other before they both take off for the office.



Xavier sits by the door as he waits for Logan. The feral mutant bursts in the door as the telepathic man holds his hand up, “I know, Logan…I know he’s out there.”

“We need ta’ do somethin’!” he says impatiently. Xavier takes his hand, but Logan jerks away, “I don’t need ta’ calm down…that bastard is out there!” The claws slide out slowly, matching the growing anger inside him. “Logan, running out there isn’t going to help. They aren’t ready to move yet…they are still just planning.”

Logan growls menacingly, claws gleaming as Ororo and Rogue come in the room. Ororo sees a fuming Logan and places a hand on his shoulder. Her scent comes to him…orchids, calming him instantly. He turns to see her and the claws retract, “We gotta do somethin’, darlin’.”

“We will, just not now. We need to be prepared, Logan.”

“Yeah, let’s go down ta’ the debriefing room…I’m sure Dr. McCoy has some stuff for us, oh and the stuff me and Jean were lookin’ up.”

“What did you find, Marie?” Xavier asks. She smiles, “Let’s go see…we need Jean though.”

The elder mutant nods as they all head to the lower levels, Logan still seething that Creed is still outside…watching and waiting.

They all empty into the downstairs hallway, startling Hank. “Oh my, what has happened?”

“Creed happened…that’s what.” Logan snarls, making Hank frown.

“I had an idea that they were out there. The probes around the compound have been showing a little activity…which meant that they had to be near. With the denseness of the surrounding trees, it’s hard to pick them up…especially with Wraith. But look here…” Hank punches up some scenes on the big screen for them to look at.

They can see a figure speaking to another figure in a white coat before the first one moves off to open a
large door. The glare off the insides blinds the screen for a moment before thousands of little vials are visible.

“Is that…that can’t be…” starts Ororo.

“It is, and it’s an abomination,” a voice says from behind them. They turn to see Jean and Scott entering the room…a little flushed and disheveled, but no one says anything. Jean moves to the screen, pointing to the figure in white. “That is Dr. Byron Schmidt…Rogue and I have been looking up some information on him and it’s amazing. The progressive works that he has done with gene splicing and reproductive medicine are years above the rest. Stryker brought him in because he had the idea of using mutant DNA for some of his testing…to see what they could produce with it. The medical community denied him the access to what they had, but since Stryker has been at this for so long with the Weapon X project…he had more than enough to satisfy Schmidt.”

She flips a switch and another screen shows some pictures of failed experiments…some more hideous than the others. “The early tests were failures, never making it past their first year, but with the regenerative machinery that Stryker has…the tank used for Logan, the tests could come out more positive. What I can deduce is that Schmidt wants to induce a pregnancy with selected DNA samples and monitor it in controlled situations.

He did try with a runaway, but she wasn’t viable enough to take the insemination and she died within a month…that’s what got him kicked out of medicine. Now, he wants to try a mutant…makes sense since it is mutant DNA they’re using.”

“But why did they want to choose one of us?” Rogue asks, “I didn’t really get it while we were looking this stuff up.”

Jean answers, “Because we are considered the most powerful of all mutants…stronger than most of the others I am sure they looked at. Those with the Brotherhood are strong, but not controllable. We all have the sense to be able to control ourselves...that’s what Stryker is looking for, but Schmidt just wants someone strong enough to deal with the procedure and be able to carry the “child”. That so-called test in Louisiana was to see who was the strongest, and I’m sure that the actual choice wasn’t Ororo.”

“Why?” Scott asks and Hank answers this time, “Because she never used her powers…they had no gauge. The one I’m sure they would have chosen was Rogue…” The young girl blanches as Ororo takes her hand.

“Why me?”

“You can absorb powers; that would include those of the DNA given to you…who knows how powerful the child would be? But what saved you is what harmed Ororo…”

“Creed…” growls Logan.

“Yes, he obviously saw something that pinpointed ‘Ro out to him…more than likely a look. You guys don’t hide it well…” Hank adds.

Ororo blushes and Logan frowns while Jean grins, “Anyway, he must have decided that was his way to get at Logan.” The beast rages in Logan now…his failure spelled out in such a manner hitting him deeply, so he turns to leave the room. Ororo stops him by grabbing his arm, but he can’t look at her. Jean pauses for a minute before finishing her findings, “Stryker still wants his super soldier…and since using Logan is not really an option now, what better way than to give birth to one? And with the advances in cloning…who knows how long it would take to incubate?”

The room is silent for a moment…Logan still staring at the floor, struggling with his anger at himself. “Now, we know what we’re up against and who. Ororo offers to be the bait, to let them come for her…” starts Xavier.

“No…” Jean says, but is cut off by her mentor. “The plan is a sound one, and now that we have eyes on them…we will know when they come. We’ll have the team ready to mobilize the moment she’s taken.”

A stern look from Ororo keeps Jean from saying anymore. “We have a lot to take in…why don’t we call it a night?” Xavier suggests and everyone heads out the room…except Jean. The Professor comes over to her, “What is the matter?”

“I don’t think she can handle it…we shouldn’t let her do it.”

Xavier looks pensive, “She believes that she needs to do this to prevent any more harm to anyone…and face her demon.”

The redhead looks at him, “What about Logan?”

He smiles now, “He did what you would expect…lose it. She had to calm him…he accepts it, to a point.” Jean shakes her head, “I don’t like it…not at all.”

“Neither does he…”



Ororo walks with Logan up to the loft…without him saying a word. Once they get inside, he walks over to the dresser and opens the top drawer, pulling out a cigar. Then he walks over to the door to the balcony, opening it and stepping outside...lighting it to take a long drag. 'Damn the air still has his scent…'

She waits at the door…knowing that he needs this time to settle down. 'He’s upset…feeling guilty again about what happened to me.' She folds her arms, “Logan…it’s not your fault. You could not have known this was going to happen…”

Another long drag of the cigar…

Ororo walks over to the railing and looks him in the face…wanting to get through to him. There has been many times when he has had to deal with heartache…probably more than she knows, but he has always had the strength to pull through. Logan needs that strength now…she needs that now. A hesitant hand touches his arm, and he looks down at it…still silent. “Please…don’t shut me out. Not now.”

Logan takes another drag on the cigar before throwing it over the side. Breathing heavily, he looks down at her with a wistful look in his eye. “’Ro…” he says in a tortured voice, but he says nothing else. She wraps her arms around his neck, holding him close. His arms grip her as if he would never let go…his fingers gently stroking her silvery hair. They stand there, holding each other…not speaking, knowing there really isn’t a need to. They both know what the other feels and they take comfort in that.

Ororo feels tears welling in her eyes, falling down her cheeks as Logan strokes her hair…gently planting a kiss on her forehead. It seems an eternity before he says anything, “I’m tired of sayin’ sorry…I’m tired of knowin’ that I failed ya’…”

“You didn’t fail me…you didn’t know. How could you?” she insists as she looks at him. “No one blames you, but you…I won’t ever do that again. I loved you before all this, and if this was to be a consequence of that…neither one of us knew it. Would that knowledge have changed my heart’s decision…would I rather go through life wondering what might have been instead of reaching out for what was right in front of me? I know it wouldn’t, and it hasn’t. I was not going to let you get away again without you knowing how I felt…not knowing if you ever were going to come back so I can tell you. I don’t regret my feelings, then or now…please don’t regret yours.”

“Never…never, koibito,” Logan says in a wavering voice. The beautiful wind-rider pulls him closer, “Then you know that everything will be fine…that we can beat this, I need you to believe that we can beat this!”

He just looks at her with the most loving gaze she has ever seen from him…her heart constricts with emotion.

Logan takes her by the hand to lead her back inside…walking her over to the bed. Slowly, deliberately, he starts to remove her clothes…agonizingly careful in how he takes each piece off, then caressing and kissing the bared skin. Each caress is reverent…each kiss paying homage to the Nubian beauty that has the courage to love him anyway. This is not started to enflame either one of them…this is just to acknowledge how deep the feelings run without having to say a word. Logan has never wanted to experience anything like this before…never dealt with a love so encompassing that he can’t live without it. This woman is more than his mate, more than his lover, more than his friend…there really isn’t a name he can put to her. Ororo has become everything to him…and that is enough for a man that has never been able to put down roots without someone or something trying to destroy it.

His fingers tremble as more and more of her mocha colored skin is uncovered…her grace and beauty beyond amazing to him. The shape of her body, the fullness of her breasts, the scent of her arousal even though he had not set out to do that to her is becoming a glorious torture. His animal wants his mate…wants to drive into her so completely that she will know nothing else but the intense pleasure that only they can share, but making love is the easy part…being able to show her that love in other, more sensual ways is the true test.

As she feels his hands caress her, Ororo closes her eyes…thanking the Goddess once again for letting this man into her life. Forge was a stepping stone, a regretful one…but the one that opened the door to her true life partner, someone that has been there for quite some time. She feels her bra unfastening and hears it fall to the floor…warm hands caressing her lightly, her panties sliding off in a whisper…leaving her bare to his avid gaze.

“’Ro…” Logan whispers again and she places a finger to his lips…that he kisses gently.

“My turn,” she whispers back.

She runs her hands over his chest, massaging as she goes. A small groan escapes him as she takes the edge of his shirt and pulls it over his head. She places a kiss on the spot above his heart as her hands play with the soft hair covering his chest. Her hands move lower to remove his pants and his head drops back…his concentration on keeping the beast caged. Slender fingers slide the pants down and off after his boots, leaving him standing there in his gorgeous glory. Never has she seen a man built so beautifully that wasn’t a statue in someone’s museum. With broad shoulders, a tight, well-defined chest, chiseled abs, and powerful legs all covered in soft midnight black hair…he is the epitome of a Greek god. She looks further down at his beyond impressive manhood; tall, thick and powerful…this man has it all.

'And he’s all mine…'

Ororo lets her hands have their playtime, roaming across chiseled features and rippling muscles. She steps closer to run her hands along the back of him…sliding those hands down his back to his buttocks and further down the back of his thighs. Logan’s body can’t help but to react…his manhood at firm attention. Ororo presses closer, feeling his body rumble with…a purr? Smiling, she runs her fingers through his hair and scratches behind his ear…making him smile. He picks her up, holding her close as he walks to one side of the bed to place her in the middle of it. As she moves over a little to give him room, he climbs in and rests on top of her…settling nicely between her thighs.

“We don’t have to, ya’ know.” Logan says.

“I know…as crazy as it may sound right now…I just want to hold you. Kuja kulala na mimi…come sleep with me.”

Ororo murmurs as she caresses his back. He nuzzles her neck, settling in half on her and half on the bed…his head resting on her shoulder. His weight is not uncomfortable, so she wiggles a little to get better situated.

“Keep that up and we will have to!” he says huskily. Smiling, she turns her face to his and kisses him sweetly. They forget about covers since his body is warm enough…nothing else is really needed.

“Usiku Mwema, mpenzi…”

“Oyasuminasai, koibito…”



Midnight…and Logan awakens with a dark purpose in mind. He stares at Ororo for a few minutes…wondering how in the hell he was able to keep himself from losing his damn mind! Anybody else would have taken full advantage of this naked goddess sleeping next to him, but oh no…his fuckin’ inner ‘gentleman’ wanted to cuddle…cuddle!

'Gotta stop this shit! Gettin’ too damn soft for my own good!'

He lies there for a minute more…not wanting to leave her side, but he has something he has to do. Sliding out the bed carefully, he goes over to the dresser and pulls out a black shirt and army fatigues, dressing quickly. 'The kid’s probably wonderin’ where the hell I am…well, actually…' he smiles at what actually may be running through the kid’s mind. He slides on his boots and grabs his favorite leather jacket...heading to the door. Logan stops to look back in on her, making sure that she’s still asleep…even more determined to do what he’s planning.

“Watashi wa anata o aishite imasu…” Logan whispers as he opens the door and leaves.

Ororo opens her eyes and stares at the closed door. She knew instinctively that his beast was raging…needed to do something to continue to protect her. She sits up, wanting to know what exactly he has on his mind. Hopping out of bed and dressing just as quickly in a tee-shirt and sweats, she heads downstairs…just as determined to find out what he’s up to.



Logan makes it to the garage at 12:10…Remy sitting there, smoking a cigarette. As he walks over to the young man he says, “I thought I told ya’ that Chuck would kill ya’ fer doin’ that…”

“I saw the smoke comin’ from Ms. Munroe’s room…seems like Remy’s not ‘da only one gonna get in trouble.”

Logan frowns, “Smart ass…” They both start to walk towards two of the motorcycles out on the grounds, and Remy asks, “Who ‘dese?”

“This one is mine, but you got One-Eye’s…he won’t mind. I figure we can get there by 3 am at the latest…”

“Where?” a soft voice asks.

Both turn around sharply to see Ororo hiding in the shadows. “Damn…” Logan hisses as she comes over to them to ask, “What are you doing…or actually what are you planning to do?”

“You don’t need ta’ be here…” Logan starts, but she cuts him off.

“I knew from earlier that you would not let this rest, so you might as well tell me.” She stares at the both of them, waiting for an answer. Remy looks to the ground while Logan stares right in her eyes…

“You’re going after Stryker…Logan…” she starts as he sets the bike down and grabs her arms, holding her. “Don’t try try ta’ stop me, darlin’…ya’ know I need ta’ do this.” Ororo looks at the same determination in his eyes that she had earlier and nods. She knows the driving instinct he has…and it won’t be satisfied until the enemy has been confronted.

“Please be careful…you know they still want you too,” Ororo says.

He can’t help it…he leans over and kisses her hungrily, his tongue plundering her mouth mercilessly. Remy walks further out onto the grounds to give them some time...also to light another cigarette. Logan pulls her even closer, his kisses more passionate…her hands gripping his hair. He moves his lips to her neck, his hands gripping her hips…his own trembling. “God, ‘Ro…I should’ve…I really should’ve…”

Her eyes flutter closed as her neck falls back, “Goddess…I wish that now, too,” she groans as her hips press against him. Taking a deep breath, she pushes back…her eyes blazing blue, “I do understand what you need to do, but please…you have to come back to me.”

“I’m comin’ back, darlin’…count on it.” Logan returns, giving her another scorching kiss. He pulls back, heading out behind Remy. They both get on the motorcycles, sparking them up and giving them a little gas. As they start to pull off, Logan gives her one last look before they head down the drive. Ororo stands there until they’re out the sight…and until she hears someone else enter into the garage.

“So…going after him, is he?”

“No, going after Stryker…Creed will follow after he grabs me,” she returns. Her visitor looks out at the closing gates with her. “You know that this is not going to be pretty…”

“I am aware of what Logan is capable of, and I’m not afraid.” Ororo says proudly.

“Oh, and by the way…where’s my bike?”

Ororo smiles at Scott, “Remy took it…he went with him.”

“What?! Damn…”

She leaves him there brooding, walking back into the mansion, laughing.



Ororo sits in the rec room, watching some late night movie while sipping on a glass of warm milk. The old movie playing is some romance that was filmed in the twenties...nothing that really interests her, but it’s enough to take her mind off Logan. As her eyes begin to get heavy, she gains another visitor.

“Are you okay?” Jean asks as she sits beside her on the sofa.

“Yes…can’t sleep, so I thought I would try to catch a movie.” Ororo returns, taking another sip of the milk.

For some reason, out of all times she has been around Jean…this one time feels wrong. She waits to see what Jean has to say now.

For a few moments, the redhead just sits there and looks at the screen with her…but after a while she sighs, “Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, it hasn’t been so long since the attack. Do you really think that you’re ready to handle this?”

Ororo stares at her for a minute, “You have known me long enough to know that if I didn’t feel I was ready then I wouldn’t have suggested it. I don’t do anything without being sure that it can be done.” She didn’t think she would have to explain it to her, but she has a feeling that there is more to this than the worry about her welfare.

“What else is on your mind, Jean?”

For once, Jean looks nervous…and she takes another minute before she speaks, “I’m glad that you have Logan…you guys deserve each other.”

“Thanks…he’s a remarkable man.” Ororo says, curious to know where this is going. The redhead keeps her attention to the television as she continues hesitantly, “I just wanted you to know that it’s great…”

Sighing herself, Ororo decides to let her off the hook, “Jean, I have always known that you have had some kind of feelings for Logan…I mean, how can you not? He has also told me that whatever feelings he had for you have been resolved…but I think the question really is; have you resolved your feelings for him?”

“What?” Jean asks, taken completely by surprise.

Ororo twists in the seat to face her, “All the time that Logan has been here, you have played a game with him…teasing him as it were. What girl wouldn’t love a handsome man panting after them, even if they are already involved? I don’t think you meant to do it intentionally, but you did like it. Then, he had to kill you…and it nearly destroyed him. He has had a lot to overcome in a short bit of time, and knowing Logan it’s not easy for him to have to move on. I have been more than fortunate to have had him choose me to be his mate.”

Jean sits in stunned silence, but she sees the mark on her neck and nods. “Actually, I don’t think there was any other choice,” she says quietly as she stands and heads out the room. Absently, Ororo touches her mark again…wishing that they had made love, those kisses he left her with still turning her mind to mush. Wickedly, she smiles thinking; 'See what Jean’s missing out on!' as she snuggles back in the sofa…still watching the movie, still trying to keep her mind from worrying about Logan.



Two figures dressed in black head determinedly towards Alkali Lake…they have traveled quite a distance in a short period of time, only having to stop for gas once. As Remy and Logan streak along the roads, Logan can vaguely remember exactly how the fortress is laid out…the last time there, he was still in a haze trying to find out what happened to him so many years ago. Confronting Stryker then won’t be anywhere near as bad as it will be when he confronts him now…now, he has started something that hits too close to home. Logan could care less what happens to him, he can always heal and probably has been through more shit than anyone could ever dream of…but they want Ororo…his Storm, and that is unacceptable.

'Those bastards won’t get her…and Creed WILL pay fer what he did!' Logan’s jaw clenches as he remembers how he found her…how it took everything in him not to go into a berserker rage and rip Creed to pieces. The first priority was to get her some help…to get her out of there. 'I still can’t understand why this had’ta happen ta’ her? She never deserved it…hell, no one would. But he chose her ‘cause of me…killed a little part of her ‘cause he wanted me ta’ suffer. I’d gladly suffer fer her, but she doesn’t need it too!' The breeze blowing through his hair does nothing to cool down the ire rising within him. His Ororo…his koibito, is now barren because of that mutated piece of mutant trash!

'They’re all gonna pay…'

“They wanted Wolverine back…now they got ’im!” he hisses as they make their way to the open clearing to the lake. If it wasn’t for the fact that they all know what is hidden behind the waterfalls, it is the perfect ideal place for lovers to come and enjoy the sights. Another little bittersweet memory was that this is where Jean had died after the assault on Alkali Lake the first time, and where she resurrected after “killing”

Cyclops…but that’s another story.

They pull in just off the north bank and hide the bikes in the trees…making their way stealthily around the lake to the hidden entrance to the compound. Logan and Remy perch themselves on a huge sycamore overlooking the entrance, waiting to see their chance to go in.

“What we do now. Logan?” Remy asks. Logan settles himself on a branch…his senses fully attune with the surroundings…his warrior skills at complete alert. He sniffs the air for any sense of Stryker, Wraith, or Creed…but nothing.

“We wait, kid. They’ll be here soon…”



Wraith still had his sights set on the mansion…and he saw Logan and the kid leave an hour ago. Smiling, he sees the perfect chance for them to get their target and get out before he comes back. He looks back over at the still comatose Creed. 'Fucking bastard!' he sneers as he pulls out his communicator.

“Base, this is Wraith…come in Base…” a bunch of static is heard before a scratchy voice comes on.

“This is Base…we read you, Wraith.”

“Logan has left the mansion…it’s a go for extraction…would suggest the stealth team for it. It would eliminate
any unnecessary casualties.”

“Copy…will mobilize immediately. Will contact you when within striking distance.”

“Copy that.” Wraith returns before the connection is terminated. He hears a loud moan behind him and smiles smugly as the big man tries to regain his senses.

“Have a nice nap?” Wraith asks, with his hands on his hips. Creed growls out, “Fuck you…”

“Not my type…anyway, it’s a good thing you calmed down…Stryker and the troops are on the way.”

“Why? Wha’ happened?” Creed asks.

Wraith is about to tell him that Logan was no longer in the mansion, but that small sense of humanity stops him…wouldn’t be a good idea for that lady down there, the only thing keeping the big idiot from going in now and getting her is that he thinks that Logan is there. “I alerted them to the fact that this would be the best time to strike…in the cover of darkness and with a stealth team.”

He can sense the frown on Creed’s face…he knows Creed wanted to be in on the extraction and now that he knows why…it is the best choice to have the stealth team do it. Victor snarls at him, not completely over the reason why he was stunned in the first place…but with Stryker on his way, he doesn’t have the time to figure out a reason why Wraith’s neck would be snapped.

Creed walks over to his post and grabs his binoculars, looking for the frail. Since she’s indoors, pinpointing her will be a problem. He still has the memory of that strange scent from her and it has been driving him crazy. Usually, frails don’t mean anything more to him than an occasional lay, but this one…this one holds a little more, and not just because she was Logan’s. 'I’ll figure it out when I get ‘er back…'

Wraith stares at his companion and shakes his head…it’s a good thing that he didn’t tell him about Logan leaving. He may be a lot of things, may have done a lot of things, but he has never and will never condone the brutal violence against a woman; human or mutant. He still has to shudder at what he’s seen Victor capable of doing to women…let alone what he actually did to that gorgeous lady down there. 'Hell, I’ would’ve tried to tear Vic apart if it had’ been my lady!' he muses.

“When are they supposed to be arriving?” Creed asks.

“Should be soon…they should be mobilizing now. Stryker is supposed to give us a buzz when they are in range.”
Creed snorts, “Why can’t we just go in?” He looks over at Wraith, hoping he didn’t catch the little bit of excitement in his voice…

He did…”Because you have the tact of a German tank and he wants this done as quietly as possible. We don’t need any more casualties than necessary.”

Creed laughs, “Same old Wraith…afraid to get yer hands dirty. What’s a few dead X-Men?”

“Well, one has one hell of a chance to come back with vengeance as I’m sure you already know. We don’t need to keep looking over our shoulders for him if we do something stupid.”

Creed snorts again, turning back to the mansion. 'Logan…fuckin’ Logan!'

"You’re afraid of him? Good, you should be…he is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Never understood why Stryker was so obsessed with him…” Creed flashes his claws, “Ain’t nothin’ he has that I don’t.”

“Except adamantium and common sense!” Wraith says. Victor looks at him and frowns again…he’s getting pretty damn tired of being the brunt of this guy’s jokes. He sits on a rotted log and looks over at the smaller mutant. “For someone that really doesn’t have the balls given to a mosquito, you definitely have a lot to say!”

Wraith looks at him, “Victor, if there is one thing that I have learned is that going through life thinking that it owes you something is the easiest way to end your life. Mutants are already targets in every way, shape, and form…the last thing I want to do is paint a target on myself.” He looks at Victor, “And even with that oversized ego of yours, there is something out there that can take you out…there always is.” He walks a little closer to the dirty blond, wanting to make sure that he knows exactly what he’s saying, “I’m still here because I know how to stay under the radar, I don’t want to draw attention to myself. You, on the other hand, want the center ring…needs everyone to think you are the end all and be all of everything. I’m sorry to tell you that you are waiting for something that isn’t going to happen. There is someone that is always going to be better than you…and that means Logan. He was designed that way and they succeeded…no matter what you may delude yourself into thinking.”

Creed is just itching to run his claws up through Wraith’s groin and out his throat, but again he doesn’t have a good alibi. As much as he hates what the guy is saying, he’s right about one thing…they created Logan to be better than him, denied him the very thing that could have made him better…the adamantium. Stryker told him he couldn’t handle the transfer; that he would die…bullshit! Ain’t no way that runt was stronger than him…but Stryker had told him that it wasn’t physical strength that the most important…it was the mental capabilities.

Logan was smarter and more in control over himself…'so fuckin’ what?'

Flagging Wraith, he turns back to the mansion…cursing his damn luck to be part of this shit!

Wraith laughs as he looks at his watch…the team should be here in an hour.



Logan sits perched on the branch with Remy closer to the trunk. They both have been eyeing the entrance for close to an hour. Soon the door opens and a fleet of jeeps head down the road. Logan peers closer to the last truck, seeing Stryker riding out with the fleet. He also sees the middle truck full of men dressed in all black. Realizing what’s going on, he hits Remy in the arm, “We gotta move! They’re movin’ out!”

Remy looks down on the trucks below, “’Dat mean we can go in?”

“No, that means they’re goin’ to the mansion! They’re after ‘Ro!” he says excitedly as he scrambles to get out of the tree. Remy jumps straight to the ground, “C’mon, Logan…we gotta go!”

Logan leaps out the tree, as nimble as a monkey...then they tear through the trees back to the bikes. Logan wastes no time jumping on the seat and revving up…Remy following. The two bikes fly down the road, making sure that they take the back roads back to the mansion. Logan’s heart is in his throat…for the first time ever he sends a prayer up that he can get back in time. Even though she said that she wanted to be taken, he can’t really believe that she can handle that right now…but the real reason is that he refuses to let that swill near her again. He revs the engine and roars off…almost leaving Remy in the dust.

The Cajun tries to keep up…worried about Ororo, and Rogue. 'What if ‘dey decide to change ‘dey minds and take Rogue anyway? What if we don’ get back in time?' He revs as well, wanting to get back as quickly as Logan does.



Wraith almost dozes off when his communicator goes off. Shaking his head, he grabs it, swearing, “Wraith here.”

“We are within ten minutes of the mansion…where are you located?”

“We are on the north ledge on the opposite side of the front gates…there is a road that leads right to our
location and cannot be seen from the mansion’s security cameras.”

“Wait there…we will rendezvous within five minutes. We will converge on the mansion once everything has been scoped out…Stryker out.”

The teleporter signs off as he sees Creed looking out at the road…waiting on the trucks. 'I have a feeling Stryker ain’t the only thing we should be expecting…' Knowing that Logan is out there is extremely unsettling…the only one that can sense him is Creed. He tries to act normal, but Creed has those damn senses like Logan…

“What’s wrong? Why are you nervous?” Creed asks, smiling.

“I just want to get this over with…” he answers as he gathers their surveillance stuff to prepare for Stryker. Creed grits his teeth…he really wanted to be able to do this without the audience, he needs to get a few minutes alone with the frail, but that’s not going to happen now.

Within those five minutes, they can see the trucks pulling up the trail. Stryker jumps out the last truck and walks quickly over to the two standing at the edge of the outcropping. “This is where you have been all this time?”

“Yes, sir…we have a good sight on the entrances to the mansion.” Wraith says as Stryker walks over to look over the scene. “When did you see Logan leave?” Stryker inquires.

Creed stares at Wraith and the man ignores him, “Yeah…when did he leave?”

“It was three hours ago, sir…that was why I contacted you…”

Creed snarls, 'Damn that man! He meant to call them before I knew…he knew what I would’ve done if I had any idea that Logan wasn’t there…sorry-ass son of a bitch!'

“Creed, I need you to head down with the team as a lookout…Wraith, you need to go as well. The stealth team will go in on the north side and obtain the subject…minimal firepower. We want to make it as quiet as possible. They already know where we’re going, so once we get what we came for, we have to head back and fortify the forces…they will come to get her back.”

Wraith nods as he heads back to the truck holding the specialized team while Creed stands there, doing everything not to run down there and take what is his.

“Creed, you need to debrief with the team…NOW!” Stryker says…with Creed snarling again while walking to where Wraith is.

Stryker looks down at the mansion…imagining all the mutants that could be at his mercy in there, but he’s here for a specific reason. “Institute for Gifted Children, eh?” he says, then he laughs as he heads back to his jeep to suit up.

Wraith suits up with a flack jacket while Creed just sharpens his claws. The huge mutant is pissed…this is not going the way he wants and now he has to be the good little soldier and follow orders. He hears Stryker call out, “Team ready! Let’s head out!” A team of twelve men in complete black head out with long rifles set for stun…Wraith and Creed bringing up the rear. Stryker takes the strategic point where they were keeping surveillance. Looking through his binoculars, he watches as his men head down to the gates…one breaking off to disable the lock. The lock is unarmed in mere seconds as the team rushes in…

'Here we go…'



A silent alarm goes off in the mansion…waking Ororo from a sound sleep. ‘What?!” she says as she jumps up and rushes down to the lower levels. Doors shut closed behind her as she races to the lab. Soon after, Jean, Scott, Hank, and the Professor enter as well.

“What’s going on?” asks Scott sleepily.

“They’re here…they’ve come for Ororo.” Hank answers. The weather goddess looks upset, but says nothing. Jean returns, “We have to get to the kids…get them to the shelters…”

“Jean…you, Scott, and Hank go get the children. Take them down the back way so whatever is coming in here doesn’t see them. Ororo, you stay here…and where is Logan?”

“He left to scout out Alkali Lake a while ago…” she offers. Xavier nods as he waves them off, the three taking off for the elevator. The Professor turns on the screens and they all zoom in on the team heading up the drive towards the house.

“I don’t see Stryker…” Ororo says and Xavier nods again, “He wouldn’t be down here…he’s at a base calling the shots…” The elder mutant wheels over to the control panel and flips a switch, turning the console into security panel. “As long as you’re down here, you’re safe.”

Ororo just looks at the screens, wishing this all to be over.



Jean and Scott run through the halls, knocking on doors and getting the children out the rooms, heading down the stairs to where Hank leads them to the shelters. “Hurry children, and please be quiet.” The kids move quickly and relatively quietly. When Jean gets to Rogue, Kitty and Jubilee…the three girls all try to ask questions…

“What’s going on?” asks Kitty.

“Where is everyone going?” Jubilee inquires.

Rogue looks around and tries to spot Remy, “Remy…where’s Remy?” Jean tries to push them towards the stairs, “I don’t know…he may already be downstairs, now please hurry!” The girls run down the steps, but Rogue is more worried about the Cajun. As they get to Hank, Rogue breaks away and heads for the rec area.

“Rogue…stop! You have to come back!” he calls as he rushes after her. She shakes her head as she tears off, “Gotta find Remy…he may be out smokin’!”

The girl runs into the rec room, not finding him, so she heads to the veranda doors…only to be met by a man in black.

“Ahhhh!” she screams as she tries to turn around and run back to Beast. “Beast…HELP!” she screams again as she races back through the dining room. All of a sudden doors and windows burst open to reveal agents in black.

She screams again as she shields herself from the glass, trying to make her way back to safety.

The agents call back to Stryker, ‘We have one in sight…do we capture?”

“No, we want the weather woman. She must be in hiding…take the young one as hostage for exchange.”

“Copy…” The agent that takes the message orders the two directly behind Rogue, “Take the girl...hold her.”

One grabs her arm, but she grabs his sleeve and pulls it back…touching him. The man jerks and falls out, while the other one grabs her around her neck in a choke hold. “Now, unless you want to join the ranks of the other dead mutants I’ve dispatched…I’d get that weather bitch up here.”

“Never…” the girl hisses as she tries to wriggle free. Hank is charging into the room, but the soldier takes a gun out and places it at her temple. “Back off, Hairy…we just came for the weather mutant. Send her out and we’ll let this hellcat go.”

More soldiers come into the room with guns drawn…followed by Wraith and Creed. ‘Well, if it isn’t the furry doctor? Where’s the frail?” drawls Creed with a sinister smile.

Hank growls, “Not here...so you’ve wasted your time.”

Wraith steps forward, “I don’t think so…we know she hasn’t left here, so bring her forward. You don’t want this girl hurt, do you?”

Hank tries to think, but that gun to her head is enough to hold him back. Jean and Scott show up…Cyclops takes aim, but Hank shakes his head. “We have to be careful…they have Rogue.”

Jean thinks of levitating something to hit the guy with, but there are at least five guns trained on her while the others are trained on them…a stand-off.

The teleport walks over to them, “Look, we weren’t sent in here to hurt anyone…we came for, Storm is it? Turn her over and you can go back to your happy little lives.”

“No, she’s not here…” Jean says, weighing her options while sending out a silent call…

'Logan…get back here! They’ve come for her!'



Logan roars as Jean’s message gets to him…and he throws his bike into overdrive. The roads they are taking head in the back way of the mansion…with them being only a few minutes away. Remy senses that he knows something, so he pushes his bike, too. They race along until they see the smaller side entrance to the grounds of the mansion…both bikes screaming their arrival. The main house is coming into view as they tear across the pool area. Logan can see Sabretooth in the house…Wraith nearby while the other X-Men are at a stand-off. The angered feral leaps off the bike, letting it ram into a nearby wall…running at top speed towards the main house while Remy tries to catch up. The kid takes out his lucky pack of cards…charging them up with his unique mutant power, their pink glow surrounding the cards as he races after the raging feral.

A loud roar pierces the air and Creed instantly opens his claws, “The runt’s here…be back.”

He runs out the broken doors and heads straight into the charging Logan. Full speed, they approach each other until they collide…both hitting like an explosion. Logan leaps in the air, his claws drawn as he dives them into Creed’s chest. A pain-filled roar leaves Creed as they hit the ground, with Logan rolling over and off him to stand in a crouched position.

“Knew I’d see ya’ again…” Logan growls.

“Yeah, so did I…” Creed returns as he leaps to his feet, charging Logan again. Some of the guards turn to fire
at Logan, but energy-charged projectiles hit them in the hands, making them drop the guns.

“Remy…stop! They have Rogue…stop!” calls Jean and the young man stops…staring at the barely breathing girl, gripped around her neck by the agent behind her. “Chère…” he whispers as he moves next to Hank.

“Sorry…I was lookin’ for you…” she manages to say. Damn…got another one in trouble again! His eyes glow red as he tries to figure out a way to get her out of this, but can’t see any.

“Time is of the essence…send up the mutant named Storm!” Wraith demands.



Ororo is staring in horror as the events take place above her…Xavier trying to figure out a way to get Rogue back safely.

“Let me go…you will have time to get me back, but I will not let that girl suffer because of me!” she says, but Xavier shakes his head,

“No, that’s what they want…”

“I know…but we have no other choice. Let me go…”

“Ororo…” he tries to think of a reason for her to stay…not finding any. He nods as he unlocks the barriers, letting her run out. Goddess protect her… he prays.