New Blood II: Growing Ranks

New Blood
Chapter 3: Breakout

************************************************************************

X-Industrial Tower

It was amazing how fast things changed. For the six newest recruits of the Hellfire Club it was especially apparent as they toured X-Industrial tower. After such an eventful introduction to the Hellfire Club and their ways, they were allowed to rest for the night. For Kitty Pryde, Bobby Drake, Jubilation Lee, Sam Guthrie, Tabitha Smith, and Roberto Da Costa it gave them time to regain their composure and gather themselves. They were definitely a little sore after such an extensive sex ritual, but in a good way. The afterglow lingered well after the other pawns led them to guest rooms for the night. As they rested let the gravity of their decision sink in. They were part of the Hellfire Club now. They really didn’t know what to expect. But Xavier and Selene assured them there was plenty to come.

The next morning Xavier had the other pawns wake them up and give them a full tour of the manor. But first they fitted them new attire. Since they were the second class of pawns they would wear slightly different garments than the first class did. The women wore small mini-skirts with attached garners and matching stockings that were very revealing and showed off their legs nicely. They also wore a matching cami that showed off their breasts and mid-drifts as well. In addition they wore revealing thongs that went well with the overall outfit, but Emma Frost also added they would ensure ‘easy access,’ which got a good laugh even though she was probably serious to some extent. The men wore much simpler attire compared to their elder pawns. Their outfits consisted of all black pants with a dark gray shirt that had a Hellfire emblem over the chest. Scott told them they would get more elaborate uniforms once they proved themselves, but for missions and training this is what they would wear.

Once their clothes were squared away the six new pawns followed their elder pawns through their tour. They saw every room of the manor from the opulent bedrooms to the spa areas where they would have access to plenty of beautiful women and well-built men to cater to their every desire. Some like Bobby and Tabitha found that very appealing, but they were assured they would have plenty of time for play later.

Now here they were overlooking one of the Hellfire Club’s most elaborate hubs. Everything in X-Industrial tower seemed out of this world. They noticed how submissive everybody was when they walked by. They must have recognized them as being part of the Inner Circle. The other pawns were used to that, but the six new recruits were surprised by it at first. But they could definitely get used to it. They also noticed there were a fair number of mutants working in the tower. It was odd because everywhere they had been so far turned mutants away the first chance they got. Here they seemed more valued. It was a nice touch.

“Wow, and I thought all offices were bland and boring,” said Bobby as he followed Scott, James, Emma, and Sage through the elaborate halls.

“Yeah, you guys sure don’t spare any expense,” said Jubilee, “It’s like Star Trek meets the Four Seasons!”

“Even places of business require the right décor,” said Emma, who found their reactions amusing, “You’ll find that the Hellfire Club and our numerous subsidies all value the same philosophy. Take the resources you have and make the best of them and the Hellfire Club has plenty to spare.”

“No kidding,” laughed Roberto, “I’m beginning to see why my father was so high on your guys/”

“Yes, I know your father, Emmanuel, quite well, Roberto,” said Sage, “He’s long been a loyal associate of ours. He is one of our chief political and economic liaisons in South America. And the vast wealth he receives for his efforts is just a fraction of what we’re capable of producing.”

It was a bold claim, but after everything they had seen nobody doubted it for a second. It was still hard to imagine that this kind of wealth could exist, but this building a lone was a testament to Hellfire’s opulence.

As they neared the middle levels where the main training areas were, they passed more mutant workers. Some didn’t look human. One had a body completely covered by gray rocks and the other was a young woman with white hair and pale skin. They seemed a little intimidating at first, but when they saw them they recognized them as Inner Circle and bowed respectfully.

“Wow, talk about respect,” said Sam, “That’s gonna take me a while to get used to.”

“Me too,” said Kitty, “I notice you guys have a lot of mutants working for you. Are they part of the Inner Circle too?”

“No, they’re just employees, Kitty,” said Scott, “The growth in the Hellfire Club’s mutant workforce came out of a program Lord Xavier started shortly after we were recruited. It specifically looks for mutants with valuable skills and abilities and finds specialized jobs for them within our various companies. We have mutants that emit high heat conjurors working in welding, we have mutants with strength and invulnerability working in construction and mining, and we have mutants with high intelligence doing work in our computer and tech firms. Sage here ran the numbers and The Hellfire Club employs more mutants than any other organization.”

“And it pays off as well,” said Emma, “One mutant with a special ability can replace an entire workforce for a given task.”

“It also keeps some mutants from becoming too troublesome,” added James, “We’ve found if mutants have jobs they’re less likely to join radical organizations like the Mutant Liberation Front or those Morlock freaks in the sewers and upset the natural order.”

“Makes sense,” shrugged Tabitha, “That’s one way of dealing with it I guess.”

“Yeah, and it explains why those groups don’t seem to make a big scene or something,” said Bobby, “I’ve always wondered why if everything is as bad for mutants as the media says it is then why don’t they just rise up and join groups like that?”

“Well bear in mind, Bobby, the Hellfire Club also controls a great deal of the media,” said Sage, “And some groups like that simply must exist for the sake of keeping the public and nations in check.”

“And how do they do that?” wondered Kitty.

“That’s easy…fear,” said James ominously, “People and governments always fear what they don’t understand and cannot control. If you can control how that fear is conveyed you can control how they see the world. I’m sure the lot of you has seen the results of that fear first hand. But trust me it could be a whole lot worse if it wasn’t kept in check.”

It sounded dubious, but very much in line with Hellfire’s do-what-is-necessary motto. It was a motto they were still getting used to, but there was no going back now. In some ways it was a little comforting to know that the fear conveyed by the media was contrived, but knowing they were now part of the system that was behind so much of that deceit was going to take a while to sink in.

“Guess some of those crazy conspiracy theories people believe are true,” commented Tabitha.

“Guess that makes us co-conspirators now, huh?” joked Bobby.

“I wouldn’t say we’re a conspiracy, Bobby,” said Scott as he punched in the access code to the training area, “The Hellfire Club is more a covert power entity. And now that you’re a part of it you’ll have to be trained in our ways.”

The heavily reinforced door opened and the six new pawns followed the others inside. This area seemed a lot more secure than the other areas of the building and had a much different feel to it. While many of the other parts were centered on business, this seemed more like a military training area. It was like being in a super secret base or something and to some extent it probably was. As they gazed around in awe at the high tech ambience Scott, Emma, Sage, and James led them to an observation area where they could look down and see the main arena.

It was a sports stadium of sorts. There were at least several floors of space above the arena, giving plenty of space to train. There were also various sections for different kinds of training. They saw one area where a large number of uniformed men and women were training in weapons and hand-to-hand combat. Nearby were some obstacle courses that a few Hellfire mercenaries were running through to hone their agility and speed. On the far side was a large circular enclosure where the other pawns were training. They could make out Jean, Piotr, Rogue, Kurt, Pietro, Wanda, and Warren inside fighting off various obstacles that appeared to form out of beams of light. They assumed they were holograms, but they looked very real. It was all pretty elaborate and for the six young mutants it was an amazing sight.

“This is where you’ll be training,” said Sage, “Hellfire has access to some of the best resources in the world and you’ll all be learning a little of everything about being a good Hellfire operative.”

“Damn! Nice setup!” exclaimed Jubilee.

“Yeah, like the game show from Hell!” added Tabitha.

“And THIS is where we’ll be training?” said Roberto, still finding it hard to believe.

“For the most part, yes. Since you are still young you will receive some basic schooling. You’ll also gain an understanding of how we run things around here. But as part of the Inner Circle you’ll be expected to know how to fight. Eventually you’ll become skilled in the art of combat, management, and assassination.”

“Assassination…you mean killing people?” said Sam warily.

“It’s a necessity in our line of work,” she said flatly, “You must be willing to slay those who threaten the natural order the Hellfire Club has established. It is the only way to ensure the continuance of our organization.”

That made them shift slightly. The idea of having to kill didn’t sit too well. They had a feeling these people weren’t afraid to take lives. The way they carried themselves had an aura of ruthlessness that hinted they had no remorse about killing. It was a mindset they weren’t quite at yet, but having already gotten a taste of darkness earlier it wasn’t something they would completely discount. It just seemed so extreme to them at this point.

Sensing their uneasiness, Scott stepped in.

“I know it seems daunting at first, but trust me you’ll see the need for it as you get a feel for how the world works,” said Scott, “My father was a soldier and he always told me sometimes you won’t agree with your duties, but so long as you believe in the cause you should always stick to your guns. It all works out in the end.”

“But…doesn’t it change you?” asked Kitty, wary of the effect it would have on you.

“It can, but only as much as you let it,” said Emma, “You may feel strange about it at first, but eventually you won’t lose any sleep over it.”

“So it doesn’t bother you?” said Sam, a lot of this going against his old beliefs.

“Of course not,” said the attractive blonde, “But don’t worry. You won’t be expected to become cold blooded killers in any respect. Your development won’t happen overnight, but you will eventually learn all our ways, even the brutal parts. In the long run it’ll make you stronger. And trust me you’ll need all the strength you can get here.”

Bobby, Kitty, Sam, Roberto, Tabitha, and Jubilee watched over the arena below. They made it sound daunting, but in looking at them and seeing how strongly they carried themselves the six new pawns felt a little reassured. They were going to have to challenge many of their old beliefs about morality and how the world works. But after getting a taste of what was possible if they crossed a few lines, they were intent on experiencing more. It may take a while for them since they didn’t come from the same backgrounds as the others. But eventually they would come around. The Hellfire Club gave them a chance and they were going to make the best of it.

“Looks like there’s plenty of strength to go around here,” commented Jubilee as she watched some Hellfire mercenaries train with advanced weapons.

“Hey, I don’t mind,” said Tabitha, “I’ll do whatever I have to so long as it means I don’t have to go back to living on the streets.”

“Serve us well and you’ll all get everything you’ve ever wanted and then some,” said Sage.

“Everything, huh? Well if last night is any indication I say that’s a fair deal,” said Bobby, still reeling from the memory.

“Damn straight!” grinned Roberto.

Scott, Emma, Sage, and James couldn’t help but smile. They all seemed to take nicely to the Hellfire Club’s recreational activities. That alone provided good incentive. But there was plenty more they had yet to experience. They would in due time, but they had to be reminded that it didn’t come free.

“But for all the pleasures and comforts we offer, we also require you to work as well as train,” reminded Scott.

“Sounds fair, but what kind of work are we talking about here?” asked Kitty.

“That depends,” said Emma with a mischievous grin, “For the girls here, your work will begin at our top level strip clubs. There you will be tasked with using your ‘assets’ to entice potential clients and if necessary exploit them in numerous ways. This will help you develop into strong Hellfire women.”

“Wait, back up…we have to be strippers?!” exclaimed Jubilee.

“Oh you make it sound so demeaning. It’s actually a lot of fun!” grinned Emma, “But yes, you will be working our clubs as high level strippers that men will pay high premiums to see. That will involve taking your clothes off, dancing, and giving them the occasional fuck. But don’t worry. We provide you with all the necessary resources to enjoy yourself.”

“I…I don’t know,” said Kitty, “Do we have to?”

“You have to start somewhere, Kitty,” said Emma, “That’s where all the other female pawns started and that’s where I developed into the pristine piece of womanly perfection you see before you.”

“Ain’t she a poster-girl for vanity,” said Sam under his breath.

“Yeah, but she’s still pretty fucking hot,” grinned Bobby.

Emma heard that, but chose to ignore it and continued addressing the girls.

“You girls will be fine, trust me. I’ve been tasked with showing you the ropes. With time you will all become skilled, sexy, confident young women who can bend any man to your whim.”

“I like the sound of that,” grinned Tabitha, “But before I hit the stage I’ll probably have to hit the gym first. I’ve been living on the streets and could stand to tone up a bit.”

“Me too, but I still don’t know if I have the body for stripping. I mean look at my breasts. They’re not exactly voluptuous,” said Jubilee as she rubbed her hands over her modest cleavage.

“Yeah, mine too,” said Kitty, who had always been self-conscious about her looks, “And I’m not sure how my petite form will get me many fans.”

“Oh ye of little faith,” scoffed Emma, “Trust me, there’s nothing about your bodies we can’t fix. Later on we’ll introduce you to Mr. Sinister, the Hellfire Club’s official doctor and unofficial plastic surgeon.”

“Sinister? What kind of a name is that?” asked Jubilee.

“That’s a long story. But trust me, the man does good work. He’ll fill you out in all the right ways until no sane man in the world would turn you down.”

As intimidating as becoming strippers sounded, there definitely was some appeal to enhancing their beauty. Tabitha, Kitty, and Jubilee never saw themselves as total hotties like some of the girls they knew growing up. Even though Tabitha turned plenty of heads back home, that perfect beauty they all sought seemed unattainable for them. But in a place like the Hellfire Club, anything seemed possible.

“That’s all well and good for the girls, but what about us?” asked Sam.

“Oh you’ll have your share of work as well, just not the same kind,” said Sage.

“Damn, guess I can rule out being a male jiggalo,” said Roberto.

“Don’t rule anything out yet, Roberto,” said James with a smirk, “While you boys are training, you’ll be doing some grunt alongside the Hellfire Club’s mercenary army. That’ll include guarding important liaisons, acting as transporters for valuable cargo, and protecting our operations in unstable areas.”

“Sounds like a grand ol’ time,” said Bobby dryly.

“It’s not glamorous, but you have to start somewhere,” said Scott, “But do your jobs well and you’ll eventually work your way up. If you go above and beyond, distinguishing yourself and your abilities as true assets to the Hellfire Club, you’ll gain status much faster. You’re all young and you’ve got a long road ahead of you. But take it from someone who has been in your position before…it’s worth it.”

Scott made sure he emphasized that last point. As field leader of the Hellfire Club’s vast army he knew what it took to start small and work his way up. His efforts were rewarded in a big way. He now had much more say and influence over Hellfire affairs. He also had greater access to the wealth and comforts of the Hellfire Club. All he had to do was snap his fingers and an army of women and servants would start catering to his every need. Many of the other first pawns had reached similar status. Looking at these young mutants he saw potential, but plenty of youthful ignorance. But if the Hellfire Club could mold him into the man he was now it could do the same for them.

Bobby, Kitty, Sam, Jubilee, Roberto, and Tabitha took his word for it. After seeing the kind of respect and power Scott and the others commanded around here, it gave them a good idea of what this place was capable of giving them. Even if they were young, they could still learn these ways. Even if there were some objectionable aspects to it like killing and stripping, they were willing to give it a try. It sure beat anything they had back home.

“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we’ll show you to the medical quarters,” said Sage as she began to lead them away, “I’ve already informed Mr. Sinister that you’ll be visiting.”

But before Sage could get too far they all heard the familiar telepathic voice of Charles Xavier in their heads.

‘I’m afraid you’ll have to cut the tour off here, Sage. A serious situation has come up and I require all the elder pawns to meet in the briefing room.’

Some of the new pawns rubbed their heads a little. They were still getting used to having a telepath talk into their minds.

“Man, that still feels weird,” commented Roberto.

“I hear you,” said Tabitha.

Sage looked over at the six young mutants. She knew she couldn’t just leave them here.

‘But what about the new pawns, Lord Xavier?’

‘Hand them off to Hank. He’s on his way up now and will introduce them to Sinister. The rest of you meet up with the others. This matter requires our immediate attention.’

That was all they needed to hear. Xavier didn’t summon them all like this for much. Whatever was going on must be pretty serious. He didn’t sound overly urgent, but then again he always maintained a calm and collected demeanor. It was part of what made him so good at what he did. The younger pawns would soon learn that. For now, duty calls.

“Guess we’ll have to cut this short, kiddies,” said James, “Hank will finish the tour.”

“That nice of you. Hand us off to bigfoot,” said Jubilee.

“Don’t worry, Jubilee. Hank may look imposing, but he’s really an oversized teddy bear,” said Emma.

“Says you,” scoffed Kitty.

The four elder pawns rushed off while the six of them stayed behind. Even though they were new the six newest Hellfire recruits couldn’t help but wonder what was so important that Xavier told them to break off the tour and meet him. It must really be something and with everything they’ve seen so far, anything was possible.

Briefing Room

Upon receiving the Black King’s order Scott, James, Emma, and Sage met up with Jean, Warren, Piotr, Rogue, Kurt, Wanda, and Pietro soon and rushed to the briefing room. It was a room located near Cerebrum and contained various high tech machines that linked up with the Hellfire Club’s various networks. In the center was a large metal table with a holographic projected they used to display maps and assorted files. They mainly used the area to go over mission strategies, but rarely gathered together like this. But on the rare occasions they did it usually meant something big.

Xavier and Selene were there waiting for them and going over something on a laptop. It looked they were talking to somebody. They didn’t seem worried. If anything, they looked excited.

“So what’s this about, Lord Xavier?” asked James as the last pawn filed in, “Is this another one of those crushing-up-and-coming-competition deals again?”

“Not this time,” said Xavier with a light hearted grin, “I called you all here because Selene and I have been in contact with Mystique recently. She has some exciting revelations from her mission in Canada.”

“You’ve been talkin’ too mah, mama?” said Rogue, who immediately perked up at the mention of Mystique, “Ah ain’t heard from her in months. What’s she been up to all this time?”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” said Selene.

The Black Queen then turned the laptop around so it was facing everybody. On it was a live video feed of Mystique from her office in Department H. When she saw the other pawns and her kids in the crowd, she smiled.

“Hello Everybody. Kurt, Rogue, sorry I haven’t been able to keep in touch. It’s been a bit busy here in Department H lately.”

“It’s alright, mother. It’s good to see you again,” said Kurt, “But vhat exactly have you been up to?”

“Charles, you want to take that one? I’ll fill in the blanks.”

“Certainly, Raven,” said Xavier.

The Black King then clicked a button on a remote control he had stashed in his pocket. This activated the hologram projector in the middle of the table. It brought up an image of several files, all of which were highly classified. But nothing was too classified for the Hellfire Club to access.

“For the past four years, I’ve been looking into a shady program conducted jointly by the United States and Canadian military shortly after World War II. It’s called Weapon X and while information is sketchy even for us, the goal was simple…turn mutants into living weapons.”

“Oh please, when have they NOT been trying to do that?” scoffed Wanda.

“Yeah, didn’t the Kingpin try something like that just last year?” said Pietro.

“This is a step well-above any of the half-hearted attempts we’ve come across before,” said Xavier, “Weapon X was very ambitious. They didn’t just want to create the ultimate living weapon. They wanted to control it as well. They developed processes that would take certain mutants and make them even more powerful. Some processes included bonding unbreakable adamantium to bones and enhancing senses and reflexes. These processes were successful. But the process they developed for controlling the specimens was not.”

“What a surprise,” said Emma, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “Let me guess, that came back to haunt them?”

“Oh it most certainly did, my dear,” said Xavier.

He then clicked another button and a new hologram came up, this time it depicted a short, burly, well-muscled figure with a very feral look to him.

“This unfortunate soul was one of their most ambitious programs. He went through the adamantium bonding process and had his mind virtually wiped of past memories. But something went wrong during the mind wipe and he broke out in a rage. They tried to stop them, but he killed nearly everybody in his path.”

“Sounds like our kind of guy,” grinned Kurt, “But how vould he have even survived such a process? I’m no expert, but you vould have to pretty tough to have your bones bonded with metal of any kind.”

“That’s where his mutant power came in,” said Xavier, “This mysterious individual has a remarkably uncanny healing ability. It’s advanced enough that he could re-grow limbs if he had to. It also makes him age very slowly.”

“So he could be a hundred years old and still look like he’s in his twenties?” said Emma, “Wouldn’t mind having that power.”

“Few would. It is this power that allowed him to survive the process, but it did little to stop him from going on his rampage. Even after he slaughtered everybody he was still angry and confused. And while details on his whereabouts are sketchy after the experiment, he seems intent on getting his past memories back and making all those associated with Weapon X pay.”

“Sounds friendly,” commented Warren, “What’s his name?”

“They called him Wolverine, but his real name is James Howlett. However, I doubt even he knows that. He’s been going by Logan ever since.”

“So how do we know it? And moreover, how do we know all this about Weapon X?” inquired Jean.

“We’re the Hellfire Club, Jean. There isn’t much we don’t know or at least piece together,” said Selene boastfully.

“And this is no exception,” said Xavier, “Much of what we know about Weapon X has come from highly classified files buried away in old archives. Mystique has done a good job of finding these files and Sage has already catalogued them and destroyed the originals so we are now in possession of most Weapon X data. Our old friend Deadpool also has a history with them. If you recall he volunteered for an offshoot program to cure him of his cancer.”

“And now he’s nuttier than a fruitcake,” scoffed Rogue, “So if that’s the kind of stuff Weapon X produces why are we so interested in it?”

“Because what they developed may be of great use to the Hellfire Club,” said Xavier great intent, “They took mutant powers and pushed them to new limits. While their method of control was anything but successful, their ability to take a mutant and make them even stronger is evident. Wolverine himself is a testament to it. That is why I have been so interested in bringing him in.”

Mystique went on to finish the rest.

“That’s why I’ve been working Department H all this time. This Wolverine character has a history here. He was once part of their state sponsored mutant team, Alpha Flight.”

“Alpha Flight? Why would he want to work with them? He hardly seems like the wannabe hero type,” said Scott.

“That’s a long story, but he didn’t stay long. He’s been on the run ever since looking for remnants of his past. He’s torn through quite a few people along the way. A body count seems to follow him wherever he goes. Even so, he stays under the radar. That is, of course, until now. Charles, if you please.”

Xavier brought up another image. This one was of a large facility that looked like some sort of military installation. Judging by the setup it was pretty advanced and most likely highly secure.

“Wolverine has been following leads on old Weapon X contacts for nearly four years now. But this is by far his most ambitious. Someone has led him to believe that this facility houses key information about Weapon X and his past. He’s intent on finding out himself and plans on attacking the facility head on.”

“But that’s crazy! Why would a place like this have information on some shady old program?” said Scott, approaching it from a strategic perspective.

“Probably because it doesn’t,” said Sage in her usual flat tone, “There’s no way there would be any files on Weapon X there. I would have found them.”

“So what’s that mean?” wondered Piotr.

“Isn’t it obvious?” said Selene, “Someone is playing him. He’s going to walk right into a trap.”

It made sense and Selene would know. She set traps like that all the time and this had all the tell-tale signs of one.

“Exactly! Even with his abilities it’s a suicide mission at best. Even if he breaks in there’s no way they’ll let him get away. They’ll probably kill him before he even gets in.”

“Which is something we do not want,” said Xavier strongly, “If Hellfire is to use the fruits of Weapon X we must stop Wolverine from destroying himself. That is why I want a team of you to go up to Canada and save him. I want to bring him into the Hellfire Club. Not only does he have the information we need, he could prove a valuable recruit.”

“If he’s racked up the body count you say he has I don’t doubt it,” said Warren, “But do you think he’ll even want to join? He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to respond to our traditional methods of persuasion.”

“Oh we still have plenty to offer,” said Xavier confidently, “Remember, we’ve catalogued all the old Weapon X files. And with our reach we could help him get his vengeance on those who wronged him. At the same time we could provide additional incentive for him to join us.”

“Will this incentive include satisfying some of those primal needs of his? Because I wouldn’t mind handling that,” said Emma as she lustfully looked at the image.

“Me neither,” grinned Jean with equally lustful intrigue.

That earned Jean a slight look from Scott. Even though they had a fairly open relationship sexually, the thought of her hooking up with a guy like this didn’t exactly sit well. But he stayed silent for now and let Lord Xavier continue.

“We’ll worry about that when the time comes,” said the Black King, “But for now, you must get to Canada and intercept Wolverine before he falls victim to this trap.”

“We’ll get right on it, my lord,” said James in a determined tone, “Any idea who’s springing this trap anyways? It would be nice to have a target.”

Mystique answered this question.

“That’s something I’ve been unable to find out. But whoever it is must have a real grudge to pull something like this. He’s due to approach the base within the hour. I’m already packing up on my end and I’ll try and slow the military down. But if you want to get him out of there in one piece, you have to hurry!”

“We will, mama. We never fail,” said Rogue.

“Ja, you trained us, remember?” said Kurt, “Ve’ll be looking for you vhen ve arrive.”

“So will I. I promise we’ll make up for lost time when I get back. Until then, I’m going into radio silence. Over and out.”

The screen on the laptop went dark and then Xavier closed it. He clicked on the remote again and brought up the image of the base, which they now understood as their target. He enlarged it a little so everyone could see clearly.

“You have your mission, my pawns,” he said, “Hurry to the site and save Wolverine. Knock him out if you have to, but make sure he ends up in our hands and not theirs. And since this is most certainly a trap, expect them to be ready for him.”

“They will probably bring in heavy ordinance too,” said Piotr, “Exactly how much collateral damage will be tolerated in this instance?”

“Any amount short of causing a nuclear meltdown,” answered Xavier, “Anything else I can easily cover up. Now get to the roof. I’ve already summoned a XR-77. Get there fast and find Wolverine. Don’t let anything stand in your way.”

“We never do,” said James confidently.

It wasn’t their typical mission. They rarely did rescues of any kind. They left that kind of thing to the Avengers and other such do-gooders. But this was a high priority target. Xavier seemed especially interested in this Wolverine character. He probably had his reasons, but whatever they were he kept them to himself. In any case this was the chance to have a powerful new ally on their side. If this Wolverine guy was as tough as he looked, he would fit in well with the Hellfire Club.

The elder pawns were just on their way out, but there was one more detail Xavier had to work out.

“Scott, Pietro, I need you to stay behind,” he said.

The two mutants turned around, but stayed near the door.

“What is it, my lord? We should probably get going if you we’re to get to Canada,” said Scott with a touch of urgency.

“You two will not be going on this mission. I have another task for you,” he told them.

“What?! Can it wait? I thought you said this was a high priority mission!” exclaimed Pietro.

“It is, but so is this. And I’ve been putting it off long enough.”

Neither Scott nor Pietro was thrilled to be left out on a mission like this. Scott considered himself a leader and for such tasks it was his duty to be on the front lines. For Pietro, he just didn’t like being kept out of the action. But the look on the Black King’s face left no room for argument.

“Sir, with all due respect I think I should be out there leading the charge,” said Scott strongly, yet maintaining a respectful tone, “It’s what I’ve been trained to do.”

“I know you are, my boy. But it’s also important that missions go on without your leadership from time to time. That way our success is not dependant. I’ve already informed James via telepathy that he will be taking charge and he will explain it to the others.”

Scott still didn’t like it, but he didn’t argue with the Black King’s decision.

“So what’s this task you’ve got for us that’s so important nobody else can handle it?” said Pietro dryly.

“I think you both already have an idea. It’s concerns the recruitment of your siblings,” said the Black King.

The two young men shifted uncomfortably. They were hoping this would come up later rather than sooner.

“I know we’ve discussed it before. We’ve been putting it off for a while, but with a new round of recruits already in I want to bring in as many others as possible. And as it just so happens, the time is right for both of you to act.”

“How do you figure, my lord?” asked Scott.

Xavier reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of sheets of folded paper. He handed them to each of them and they unfolded it. The one Scott had was an official record of expulsion from school with his brother, Alex’s, name on. The one Pietro was a similar document, only it was for dropping out of school and it had Lorna’s name on. There wasn’t a clear reason other than ‘family issues’ written in small text near the bottom.

“Each of your wayward siblings has experienced a sudden shift in their life situation. Alex being expelled will leave him with few options, especially with the recent passing of his foster mother. And Lorna’s mother was recently in a car accident that left her legs paralyzed and unable to walk. Her treatment was so expensive the company she worked for laid her off so they wouldn’t have to pay her insurance.”

“Typical,” said Pietro, rolling his eyes.

“So you want us to just pay them a visit and make our pitch?”

“Exactly,” affirmed Xavier, “Use your own experiences to sway their decision if necessary. They are both mutants of great potential and I wish to bring them in while the other recruits are still fresh.”

“I don’t know if that will work on my end, sir,” said Scott anxiously, “Alex and I haven’t been on speaking terms for a long time. He probably won’t be very happy to see me.”

“Then use this opportunity to bridge the gap,” said the Black King, “Each new recruit counts and I feel your family connections will be more effective than any other arrangement I can throw at them.”

“You sure? Why not just lure them here and do another sex spell? That always seems to work,” said Pietro.

“Oh where’s your sense of originality, Pietro?” said Selene, “There will be plenty of time for that eventually. Just play the family card for now and Hellfire’s numerous temptations will do the rest.”

“Well put, Selene,” said Xavier, “I expect you two to be on the next flight out. You have my utmost confidence and access to whatever resources you need to get the job done. Leave the Canada mission to the others. This is your top priority for now. Is that clear?”

As much as Pietro and Scott despised this mission, the Black King’s decision was final. If this was what he wanted, it was their duty as pawns to follow through. He had good reason for doing this now as he had good reasons for everything. But family issues were always more daunting. Compared to going on a mission against a former living weapon at a secure military facility, it was a toss up.

“Yes sir,” said Scott, “It’ll be done.”

“Yeah sure,” muttered Pietro.

The two men left, clear in their objectives but uncertain in their handling. Recruiting new members to the Inner Circle was hard enough without mixing family strain into the mix. Scott had a jaded history with Alex and there was little doubt he would be difficult. He always was. But they were still brothers. He just had to remind him of that and hope he would come around. For Pietro, past bitterness wasn’t the problem. Just finding out they were family was tough enough. It was hard for him and Wanda when they found out Magneto was their father. It would probably be just as hard for Lorna even if she didn’t know him. Hopefully they could get beyond that and she would hear him out.

Once Scott and Pietro were gone, Xavier powered down the equipment and gathered the laptop. He planned on monitoring the mission from Cerebrum and Selene was going to keep a close eye on things as well. He was genuinely excited about the prospect of bringing Wolverine in. Weapon X had long fascinated him even before he became the Black King. He hoped to gain many additional resources from it, but a few in particular were of the utmost importance. But he kept those to himself.

“I still don’t get why this Weapon X shit has been sucking up four years of your time, Charles,” said Selene, always the skeptic.

“It’s all for good reason, Selene. Rest assured, I intend to use the fruits of Weapon X to the fullest,” he said with an ominous grin.

“Oh really? And how, pray tell, do you intend to do that?”

“That you do not need to know at this moment. All that matters now is we’re in the process if getting a powerful new recruit. With Wolverine on our side, the Inner Circle is that much deadlier. The rest will come in due time.”

Selene looked at him suspiciously. She knew Charles well enough to know when he was keeping something from her. He was an expert in lying and half-truths and this felt like a little of both. He had something else planned for this Wolverine character. She was sure of it. She should probably dig a little deeper, but for now they had more pressing matters to attend to. There was an important mission brewing and they had to make sure it was carried out with the usual Hellfire efficiency.

Advanced Nuclear Research Facility – Canada

A major blizzard was just settling in over the Canadian expanse. From the looks of it the storm was going to hit the advanced facility head on. The sky was pretty dark even though it was the middle of the afternoon. The snow was falling at an increasingly fast rate and before long the roads and paths would be covered. For the many guards and workers who lived and operated in this base it was all too typical, but no less difficult. It was times like this a base in the heart of Northern Canada seemed foolhardy, but for the kind of research they did it had to be here. There was a large Uranium mine less than ten miles away which provided them all the raw materials they needed to do their work. The remote location also made it highly secure and for the kind of stuff they worked on they had to be far and away from prying eyes.

As the snow picked up, the chief security officer, Captain Mark Kirkman, surveyed the perimeter while sipping a hot cup of coffee. His forces were on high alert tonight. They received a number of anonymous calls during the week that somebody was planning to break into their facility and steal their research. At first the higher ups scoffed at the notion that someone would try and break into this place, but when they heard the suspect was a mutant they took it seriously. Kirkman’s men had already been issued high powered energy rifles, which were rare but could take down herd of elephants with one shot. He also brought in extra operatives that specialized in defending against mutants. If one of those freaks was stupid enough to attack them they would be ready.

For now everything seemed quiet. With a storm bearing down on them much of his men were holding back, reinforcing all possible entry points. He had a few out doing patrols, but in this weather they could only see so much. It had the captain worried because it could potentially provide cover for an attack. That’s why he was personally overseeing the operation.

He took a few more sips of his coffee as another round of fridge winds swept through. Suddenly, he heard a distinct whoosh over his head and notice a presence descending from the clouds above. Immediately, he dropped his cup of coffee and pointed his rifle at the presence.

“Halt! You’re in a restricted area!” he ordered.

“Easy Captain, I have clearance,” said a distinct feminine voice.

Captain Kirkman kept his rifle at the ready as the figure descended and landed in front of him. To his surprise it was a woman dressed in remarkably revealing clothing for this weather. She was an attractive, well-built blonde wearing a skin tight body suit and a small mask over her eyes. She had a tough demeanor to her. Kirkman got the sense that there was some military background to this woman because he knew that look well. She didn’t seem too threatening though. She didn’t even seem to care that he had a rifle pointed at her.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

“Formerly Captain Carol Danvers, United States Air Force,” she answered, “But you can call me Miss Marvel. I’m here on official business from the Avengers.”

“Avengers huh?” said Captain Kirkman skeptically, “Mind if I see some ID?”

Miss Marvel showed him her special holographic Avengers badge, which also included emblems from SHIELD and the Federal Government. It was the Avengers way of identifying themselves officially and most military officers knew the emblems when they saw it. After studying it for a moment, the captain accepted it and lowered his rifle.

“Sorry about that, Miss Marvel. We’re on high alert,” he said.

“It’s alright, captain. I’m aware of the situation,” she said, “That’s why the Avengers sent me. Any time there’s a terrorist threat on a nuclear research facility it helps to have all possible safeguards in place.”

“Can’t argue with that logic. We were also told the threat was a mutant. That’s why we’ve got every guard armed to the teeth with the best high energy weapons in our arsenal. We’ve patrols and sentries covering every square inch of this base and reinforcements at every entry point.”

“Depending on the kind of mutant we’re dealing with even that may not be enough. That’s why I’m here to provide support. If there are any mutant terrorists out to steal nuclear secrets, the Avengers want to know about it,” said Miss Marvel.

The veteran Avenger was stern with her words. She took matters that involved military instillations extra seriously. It was part of her specialty. Like Captain America, she came from a military background. Before she was a renowned hero with super strength, flight, durability she was just Carol Danvers, a girl who dreamed of flying the space shuttle. Her childhood was modest enough. She was born in Boston, had a brother he died in Vietnam, and a tough father who beat the tar out of her. But she liked to think that toughened her up. When she was old enough she joined the Air Force and later became an intelligence operative. During that time she met and fell in love with an alien man named Captain Mar Vell, a Kree operative once tasked with helping destroy humanity who had a change of heart. She got a lot of heat for that. People kept rationalizing it by saying since her father beat her she had no trust in human men. But she could care less what they thought. It was all well and good for a while until that fateful day she became Miss Marvel.

She wasn’t looking to get superpowers. It happened by accident during a mission involving a Kree device known as the Psyce Magnitron. She ended up in the crossfire when the whole thing exploded and emitted a strange radiation that altered her DNA in a way that was similar to the Kree. That alteration is what gave her the powers that came to be Miss Marvel. She thought it was an appropriate name given it was her involvement with Captain Mar Vell that gave her these powers. At first it was a little strange, but she quickly grew to love them. She never expected her dream of flying to manifest like this, but she had no complaints. As Miss Marvel she could do much more good than she could in the Air Force. Plus she got to work alongside big name heroes in the Avengers. It made for an interesting life, but it was often wrought with danger.

Gazing out over the snowy expanse, she felt danger lurking near. It was another part of her powers she didn’t like as much as flight. She had what some called a seventh sense for detecting danger. It wasn’t quite psychic in the sense she could actually see what was coming. She could just sense something was there. And while she couldn’t see very far into the blizzard, she knew something was out there. She just didn’t know what.

“I’ll do some fly bys,” she told Captain Kirkman, “Keep your men on high alert.”

“Will do,” he said, “But if you’re gonna fly around you might want to put on something a little warmer. That uniform of yours isn’t exactly friendly for this weather.”

“Thanks for the concern, but I’m comfortable enough. In my line of work if you can’t take extreme weather you’re not cut out to be an Avenger.”

Miss Marvel took to the air, leaving the captain to the rest of his duties. The wind was picking up and so was the snow. Luckily, her powers helped protect her against these kinds of harsh conditions. It was part of her superhuman durability. If she can take being rammed by a truck head on, she can take a little cold. She was sure her presence would give the surrounding personnel some peace of mind. As she began making he rounds she saw that every possible area was secure. She couldn’t see how any reasonably minded individual or group would try and break into this place, but then again the people she dealt with as an Avenger weren’t always of sound mind.

Never-the-less, she had a bad feeling about this situation. That seventh sense for danger was bugging her again. Something just didn’t feel right. What reason could there be for anybody to threaten a secure research facility like this? Moreover, why were they tipped off beforehand? She would have liked to believe it was just foolishness or cockiness on the part of the terrorists, but experience told her that wasn’t the case. There must be other forces at work here. She just wasn’t sure what or who they were.

Outside Facility Perimeter

Wolverine was in full stealth/hunting mode. His never-ending search for his past once again led him to the all too familiar trail of his arch nemesis, Sabretooth. He came in just hoping to scope out this place, which was supposed to hold detailed records about Weapon X and his past. But the second he picked up Sabretooth’s scent he threw out his original plan and followed his prey towards the facility. This was the kind of weather Wolverine was at his best. It was cold, windy, and snowy. Sabretooth was also right at home in this weather, but Logan never doubted he was the better fighter and would chase him to the ends of the Earth if he had to.

At the moment he was sniffing the air around the base of a large pine tree. The trail was still there and it was leading him right to the base. Either Sabretooth was after the same thing he was or he was here to stop him. He wouldn’t be surprised if the same people who tipped him off about this place tipped Sabretooth off as well. The men who told him about this place didn’t exactly tell him out of charity. He had to beat it out of them after hearing some rumors at a bar not far from this remote area. The men talked with little struggle and if he could get it out of them so could Sabretooth. Even so, he wouldn’t let him get in his way. He came too far to be stopped now. If this place did have information on his past he would go through anything and anyone to get to it.

Wearing his black and yellow spandex costume that he wore during his stint with Alpha Flight, Logan was poised to strike. Every sense was operating on overdrive as he got closer to the base. He could feel something in the air as he closed in and as far as he was concerned there was no going back.

“I know you’re here, Sabretooth,” he growled into the chilly air, “You ain’t gettin’ away this time!”

With superhuman agility, Logan dashed through the heavily wooded area. He already passed two gated areas warning trespassers that this was government property and use of lethal force is authorized. But that did little to dissuade Logan. In hunts like he checked all fear and concerns at the door.

From tree to tree, he followed the scent. He could see the lights from the base in the distance through the snow. Visibility was limited, but with his enhanced senses he could make out the outer perimeter of the facility. It was heavily gated with checkpoints and sentries doing rounds everywhere. It looked pretty secure, which meant to Logan that they must be hiding something important. It was a perfect place for information about Weapon X to be housed, but at the moment that was of secondary concern. All his attention was now on Sabretooth.

With his adamantium claws drawn, he climbed his way up a tree and perched himself on a branch so he could get a better view of the area. From here he could see how vast the facility was. Luckily, he had a full layout of the place thanks to some blueprints given to him by Heather Hudson. As complicated a history he had with that woman, she still came through for him. It reminded him of why he fell for her at first, but there was no room for such feelings at this point in his life. He couldn’t let anything or anybody stand in his way from finding his past.

Then over the howling winds form the west, he heard a feral roar.

“Wolverine!”

Logan knew that roar anywhere. It was Sabretooth and he was calling him out. Never one to turn away from a challenge, he leapt across a series of branches and then back down to the snow-covered ground. He aggressively pursued the scent and the direction of the voice. He didn’t have to go far though. Just on the edge of the forest he saw Sabretooth’s imposing figure. He was tall, heavily muscled, and covered in thick body hair that made him look as much a beast as he did a man. His claw-like hands and sharpened teeth reinforced his feral demeanor. Yet even in the face of an angry Wolverine he didn’t take his usual battle poise. If anything, he looked too calm.

“Sabretooth…” growled Logan, his tone seething with hatred, “Why ain’t I surprised you’re stinkin’ up this place with your scent?”

“Because you know wherever you go, I go,” growled the imposing mutant, “We’ve done this dance before, Wolverine. You know how it’s gonna end.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna gut you like a fish and use your corpse as a shield to bust into this place! So why don’t we skip the pleasantries and just get this over with?”

“You really think you’ll find anything in this joint?” smirked Sabretooth.

“I don’t know, but I’m gonna find out! I didn’t follow a trail to the middle of nowhere for nothing!”

“Oh come on, Logan. I thought you were smarter than that! You really think you ended up here because of some elaborate trail? Where do you think that trail came from?”

Logan looked at his nemesis curiously. Then it dawned on him. The smug grin on Sabretooth’s face said it all.

“You son of a…it was you! You set me up?!” he exclaimed.

“I can’t believe you’re surprised!” laughed Sabretooth, “Damn you’re gullible, Logan! How could you not see it? It was all so convenient! I set up those calls, I paid the punks you beat up to talk, and I let my scent do the rest!”

Now Logan was really pissed. It wasn’t enough that he ventured out on this elaborate trail for nothing, but he let Sabretooth trick him. This scumbag who had the IQ of a fourth grader actually got the better of him. Now that he looked back on it he should have known better. Hindsight was bittersweet sometimes, but Sabretooth wasn’t done yet.

“You always were too dedicated for your own good,” he taunted, “I can’t you’re still whining about getting your memories back! You’re such a baby! Mr. Big Bad Wolverine is upset because some bad men fucked with his mind and made him forget!”

“Keep talkin’, furball, and I’ll paint this whole forest with your blood!” howled Wolverine.

The feral mutant attacked, his red-hot rage fueling him as he dove towards Sabretooth with murder on his mind. But Sabretooth was ready for him. Using his cat-like reflexes, he leapt up into a nearby pine just in time for Logan to dig his claws into the tree. Then while he was stuck, Sabretooth went for the kill.

“You need to let go, old buddy! Fuck, you need some sense knocked into you! Good thing I tipped off security at this place this morning! I’m sure they would be happy to work you over a bit!”

Before Logan could leap up and catch him, Sabretooth pulled out a grenade from his pocket, pulled the pin, and heaved it onto the secure grounds of the facility. The explosion that ensued was bright and loud, hinting it was one of those high powered grenades that did a lot of damage. It was more than enough to set off every alarm on the base. Within seconds, sirens were blaring and every patrol was alerted.

“Damn you, Creed! You’re a coward! Getting a bunch of grunts to do your dirty work because you know I’ll beat you?” exclaimed Wolverine.

“It’s called working smarter not harder, rodent,” grinned Sabretooth, “I don’t care who does the fighting as long as you’re on the losing end!”

Logan could sense the facility security forces converging on the area. He heard jeeps speeding towards them and the frantic commands of security personnel barking out orders to heavily armed guards. As much as he hated to admit it, his rival set a damn good trap for him. Now breaking in was the least of his worries. Getting away would be the real challenge. And Sabretooth had no plans on sticking around. As the guards swarmed the area he began leaping across the tree tops, using his nimble speed and the cover of the weather to slip away.

“See you in the obituaries, Logan! I hope they torture you real good!” he called out.

“CREED! You fucker! Get back here!” howled Logan.

Wolverine used his claws to try and scale the tree that Sabretooth first scaled. But just as he was about halfway up, he came into the sights of the guards. And with Captain Kirkman leading the way, he was the first to spot him.

“There he is!” he yelled over the commotion as he took out his communicator, “All personnel converge on the south side! We’ve found our terrorist! Shoot to kill! I repeat, shoot to kill!”

The guards ahead of him followed orders, taking aim and firing their high powered rifles at the fleeting target. To Logan’s surprise they were packing serious heat. These rifles didn’t fire normal bullets. They fired high powered energy bursts that could knock a normal man out of his skin. He managed to dodge the first blast, which hit the branch above him. But the second one hit him head on, knocking him back against another tree. The pain that followed was intense, but he grit his way through it. His adamantium bones and healing factor kept that shot from being lethal, but it still hurt like hell.

By now Sabretooth was probably long gone. All eyes were on him now. They thought he was the intruder. Looking out over the distance he saw a sizable army of armed men and women bearing down on his position. Whatever tip Sabretooth gave them must have been pretty serious because they weren’t taking any chances. It was all falling apart for Logan. Not only was his nemesis getting away, but he was taking the blunt end of the trap he laid. He cursed himself for being so stupid. But now was not the time for self pity. He had to get up and fight his way out.

“Errrrrrrrrrrrrraahhhhhhhhh!” he roared in a rage.

“Fuck, he’s still moving! Who is this freak?” exclaimed one of the guards.

“Must be one of those invulnerable mutants,” said Captain Kirkman, “All units set rifles to high power! Take that freak down!”

Logan shot up and ran back into the forest for cover. The guards tried to fire on them, but they only hit trees and brush. The snow was really picking up now and he had a long way to go to get out. But so long as he kept moving he had a chance. He would have liked to stay and fight, but none of these people had a role in his vengeance. They were unwitting pawns in a plot by a hair-brained scumbag. He would tear through them if he had to, but that was a last resort. His only focus at the moment was getting away.

“Damn you, Sabretooth! I swear when I get out of this I’ll make you pay!” he growled to himself.

He heard more shots behind him as teams of guards drove through on jeeps and snow mobiles. He still had the advantage of the weather and the thick trees, but they had the advantage of better weapons. Claws weren’t much use in these kinds of situations. A few rounds even got close. One grazed him right in the leg.

“Augh! Damn it!” he cursed.

His left leg was numb for a moment, but he toughed through it and kept running. Sensing he was at a major disadvantage on the ground he leapt up into the trees and used the branches as cover. It forced the guards on snow mobiles to stop and go slower. But they adapted quickly by surrounding the area and trying to encircle him. Logan leapt across to another tree. Several energy blasts whizzed by him in the process. He landed awkwardly because of his leg, but kept on going. He noticed from some of the broken branches that Sabretooth came down this route and was probably way ahead of him. But he didn’t have time to chase his nemesis. He had to get away.

“Don’t let him get away!” exclaimed one of the guards on a snow mobile, “We’ve got him cornered!”

Up in the trees, Logan saw his situation worsening by the second. These men were no rent-a-cops. They were well trained MPs, most likely brought in as a result of the threat. That was one more thing he had to curse Sabretooth for, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. If they had him surrounded he would just have to create an opening. So he shimmied down a tree and positioned himself about halfway along the trunk. He saw guards from the north converging with the guards on the snow mobiles. But a few got a little too far ahead and were isolated. That was where he would make his move.

He noticed one swirling around the tree he was on, trying to see through the blowing snow. He would have had a great shot if the weather wasn’t so bad so Logan used this as an opportunity to pounce. Taking on his predatory poise, he leapt out from the tree with his claws drawn and attacked the unlucky guard.

“Hrrraahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

The guard didn’t have a chance to get a shot off and Logan was able to slice through his weapon like it was nothing. The guards fell off the snow mobile and stumbled back against a tree. For a moment he was face to face with the raging Wolverine. His head was ringing, but he could still make out the look on his face. He saw nothing but anger and rage and wisely didn’t attempt to fight him alone.

“I’m taking this,” grunted Logan as he got on his snow mobile, “Later bub!”

“He’s got my gear! Somebody stop him!” exclaimed the guard.

Logan was already going full speed through the woods. He kicked the snow mobile into high gear, skillfully navigating through the trees and closer towards his escape. Along the way a few other guards that passed by tried to shoot him, but he was able to easily avoid them. The trees, weather, and speed of the vehicle all worked to his advantage. Only one shot almost hit him. It forced him to swerve a bit, but he was able to maintain control.

It looked like he was going to get out of this after all. Sabretooth’s brilliant plan to lure him into a trap did nothing except hate him even more if that was even possible. With the weather on his side and some speed he figured he could get to the fences, slice a few holes in them, and speed away. Maybe he could even catch Sabretooth if that scumbag didn’t jack a snowmobile of his own. He was never one to think that far ahead and once he found him he would make sure he never pulled a stunt like this again.

With the first fence in sight Logan looked like he was home free.

“I’m coming for you, Sabretooth!” he growled as he sped through the snow.

Then out of the sky a figure descended at great speed. Logan was only able to get a brief glimpse before he felt what could only be described as a fully loaded freight train hitting him head on and knocking him off the snow mobile. His body flew through the air like a rag doll, landing awkwardly against a tree and dislocating both his shoulders in the process. His bones would have been broken too if they weren’t laced with adamantium, but that didn’t make the pain any less unbearable.

“Ugh…what the hell?” he groaned.

He looked up to see the figure now hovering over him. He recognized her as Miss Marvel, that super strong chick from the Avengers who supposedly had alien DNA in her to give her so much power. And she just gave him a full dose of it.

“That’s far enough!” she said strongly, “You’re little stunt is over!”

“Err…back off, lady!” grunted Logan as he tried to get up.

“Don’t bother getting up. You won’t get far.”

He didn’t listen to her and tried regaining his poise anyways. Then he was hit with a punishing blast from the side, causing him to yell out in pain. This time the blast was right on target, tearing much of his uniform and making every part of his body numb with pain. He fell to the snowy ground, but not before seeing the source of the blast. The guards had caught up with him. Several snow mobiles converged on the area and surrounded him. More platoons followed and surrounded the area, keeping their weapons drawn and ready to fire another punishing shot should they have to. And from the other side of the gate he saw a few jeeps pull up, each loaded with heavily armed guards.

“Ugh…” groaned Logan.

“That’s right, pal. You’ve got no way out. Now are you going to come quietly or are we going to have to get a body bag?”

Logan didn’t answer. He just growled in defiance. It was grim confirmation that these people left no lose ends. He didn’t have a chance. They had every possible area covered, no doubt leaving plenty of places for Sabretooth to slip away. It wasn’t looking good. He was surrounded, weakened, and in a lot of trouble. He didn’t want to admit it, but it looked like Sabretooth may have gotten the best of him this time. He had fallen into a trap and there was no way out. If he was to get out of this, he would need a miracle.

That’s when they heard the sound of a jet flying overhead and a new presence entered the battle.

************************************************************************

Up next: In his greatest hour of need the Hellfire Club comes to Logan’s aid and seizes an opportunity.