Noril'sk, Russia

Area 9

June 19, 2020 1:35pm

Mariah stood in the door frame of her cell and looked for the first time at the outside of her prison. The entrance gate had been less than 20 yards across from her cell and the gaping hole in the wall seemed to mock her. I had no idea I was so close. Whenever Mariah had left the cell she had been blind folded. She stared at the hole in the wall that ridiculed her with its proximity. So close to freedom, yet so far.

Mariah took a hesitant step out of the door way and into the long hallway directly in front of the entrance gate. It was night outside, but bright spotlights and ground lights made it as light as day. Snow lightly covered the ground even though it was mid-June. There were several large aircraft carriers outside, but only one seemed to have been used recently the rest had ice caked onto the metal frame and propellers. The most recently used air craft had a strange insignia on the side that had a snake shaped like a backward P and S. Mariah walked to the end of the hallway where the freezing air blasted into the already cold building.

Mariah tensed suddenly and got down low to the ground she had seen nothing, but a strange feeling had filled her. Mariah had learned not to ignore feelings. She looked at the landscape in front of her and saw a bright, green laser light pointed directly at her. Oh shit.

Mariah leapt into the hallway to her right. The green light exploded blowing apart a section of the concrete wall that Mariah had been crouching next to only a moment before.

Mariah took off down the hallway, not even waiting for the dust to settle. The hallway broke off into two different directions and Mariah took a left hoping it would take her to the training room. The training room was where she had been trained to fight and kill. The room was huge and contained a fight simulator; there she would face different opponents and hone her skills.

Mariah went into the room expecting someone to be there, but it was empty. Mariah ran to the other side of the room, where the training weapons were kept. The weapons were in a locked room, and there was a variety of selections. The room's lock operated on a palm scanning system, and only authorized personnel were allowed to enter. Mariah went over to one of the adjacent tables and looked for some kind of tool she could use to open the door.

As Mariah searched she saw a foot sticking out from under one of the tables. Mariah quickly went over to the table and saw the rest of the body. A security guard lay sprawled out on the floor with a bullet in his neck, covered in his own blood. Mariah didn't have time to wonder who had shot him. She grabbed the man and pulled him to the weapons room. Then she lifted him up and put his palm on the scanner. The room unlocked, and she went inside.

Mariah's hands were shaking as she reached for her weapons of choice, two lethal looking shivs. Mariah strapped the knives to her legs, and grabbed a particle beam gun. It was impossible to know if the situation she was placed in was a test or real, but either way she still had to fight.

Westchester, N.Y.

Harry's Bar

June 19, 2020 1:02AM

Smoke filled the bar as the patrons went about their usual routine. A few waitresses walked to different tables taking their customers orders. It was a Saturday and the place was packed full of men and women trying to drown out life with a bottle. One man in particular seemed eager to pass out before the night was through; however, unlike the rest of the heavy drinkers he didn't have to worry about intoxication any time soon...

The man's name was Logan and he was a mutant. Logan looked like a normal person, he had no aesthetic mutations, but when you looked into his eyes it was apparent there was more to his story. His blue eyes were deep and hard, yet stormy and unpredictable; they mimicked his, as some would say unreliable character. Anyone who ever knew him saw a story in his eyes. Some knew bits and pieces of it, others thought they had his mysterious past figured out, but no one, not even Logan knew the whole story.

He was small in height being only 5'4", but he was by no means a pushover and had an almost ridiculously muscular body. He had a mane of unruly, black hair that complimented his wild persona. Logan could heal any wound that was inflicted on him, and constantly put this ability to the test by blatantly placing himself in harm's way. His age was impossible to calculate because of his healing factor, but it was clear that he had been through a lot in his life. In conjunction with his healing abilities Logan also had heightened senses that included scent, eyesight, and hearing.

Logan had another secret and that was his claws. He had three 6" retractable, claws on each hand and his bones were laced with a rare, unbreakable metal called adamantium. Logan's claws were lethal and when combined with his unbreakable body and impressive combat skills he was near indestructible. Not even Logan knew where he got his claws, but from the flashbacks he experienced it was not pleasant.

Logan was dressed casually in a plaid shirt; skin tight jeans; cowboy hat; combat boots; and leather jacket. He had just downed his seventh of eighth shot of whiskey when a woman made her way over to his corner. It was a very well known fact that the corner booth in the shadiest part of the bar belonged to Logan. He had proven on numerous occasions that it was in fact his booth. That is why when the woman made her way over to his corner a few eyebrows were raised.

"Hey," the woman greeted.

Logan glanced at the woman, slowly looking her over and not being the least bit subtle about it either. She had long legs and a womanly figure with blonde hair and a pretty face. She wore a leather skirt with stiletto heels and a tight sequence blouse that left little to the imagination. She'd do.

"What can I do for ya" Logan said as he downed another shot.

"I'm just wondering why a good lookin' guy like you is sittin' all by himself."

"Oh?" Logan said as he eyed the hem of her mini skirt that was riding up her thigh as she leaned against the table.

"Yeah."

Logan was rarely deprived of female companionship, and had developed a lady killer reputation. Sometimes women would come to him thinking they could handle the infamous Wolverine, and he would be sure to give them a night they would not soon forget.

-A few hours later-

Logan silently got up from the bed and slipped into his clothes. His one night stand had fallen asleep a few minutes ago and he wanted to avoid the post sex awkwardness. She had been a decent lay, but his appetite had been near insatiable. Even now he still felt agitated and restless. Ever since Jean Grey had gotten married to Scott Summers Logan had been having a harder time finding any kind of peace. He didn't take rejection well especially not when it was someone he had allowed himself to care about. Logan's relationship with Jean Grey had been an infatuation more than anything else. His attention was hard to get, but it was even harder to hold onto.

He let himself out of the apartment and walked down the stairs to the exit. The sun had not yet risen, but the sky was a light purple on the horizon. Logan yawned as he walked to his motorcycle and slipped on his jacket.

The motorcycle was a beautiful, black Harley with chrome wheels and V-6 engine. She could go from 0-60 in .4 seconds and had more horse power than a truck. Logan loved his bike and kept her in top condition.

The bike roared to life as he turned on the ignition and headed back to his home. Logan had been living at Xavier's for a long time and had stopped his constant moving around. Professor Xavier had become more than just an employer to Logan, he was a friend. Logan was loyal to the X-Men and even taught self defense classes to some of the students, something that he told Professor X right off that he would never consider. The Prof. has a way of getting what he wants, one way or another.

After about 15 minutes, Logan pulled up to the gates of Xavier's school, and was greeted by the gruff voice of his team mate Bishop through the intercom.

"Can I help you?"

"It's me Bish, open up."

"The Professor wants a word with you before you turn in."

"Well yer gonna have ta let me in first."

The intercom buzzed and the gate opened. Logan parked his bike in the garage and made his way to the back door that led to the kitchen. He literally groaned when he smelled who was there as he opened the door, it was Scott.

Scott always got up early in the morning and it annoyed Logan to no end because he, like normal people, enjoyed sleeping in. Another thing that annoyed him was the fact that the last person he wanted to see in the morning when he was in his least patient state was Scott.

Scott was reading the paper and having a cup of coffee when Logan walked into the kitchen. He cast Logan a disapproving look that said: Don't you care that your stupid Harley is loud enough to wake up the entire neighbor hood? Why can't you think about anyone, but yourself? Logan, of course responded with a look of his own that said: Fuck you.

"Morning Logan. The Professor wants to speak with you."

"Yeah I'm goin', Cyke."

Logan continued his way through the kitchen and into the hallway that lead to Xavier's office. Come in Logan. Logan was a little surprised by the Professor's form of communication. Xavier knew that he disliked having people in his head. He let himself in and remained standing while the Professor sat at his desk.

"Hey Prof. Bish said ya wanted ta chat."

"I did indeed Logan. I'm sorry about the early hour, but it's quite urgent."

"That's what I figured. So what's the problem?"

"Would you be willing to lead a small team of X-Men to a base in Noril'sk, Russia?"

"Well-uh I guess if that's what ya want Prof, but if ya don't mind me askin' why don't ya ask Old One Eye he's usually in charge of team leadin' and such?"

"Because Logan he does not have much experience in this type of mission."

"Well are ya gonna leave me in the dark Chuck or what?"

"Of course not Logan it's just…well I don't want you jumping to conclusions."

"Jumpin' ta conclusions about what exactly?"

"A little more than a week ago I was telepathically contacted by an unknown person in extreme emotional distress and all I know about the origin of the contact is that it was somewhere in Russia."

"Well that don't exactly narrow it down."

"I am aware, but do you recall the disappearances a few months ago?"

"Yeah, the case is still IP (in progress) right?"

"Yes, but a couple of days ago I used a few contacts to find out if they had any new information, and one of them found several large aircraft carriers that held food and medical supplies going to a weather base in Noril'sk Russia."

"And what does that have ta do with the disappearances?" Logan was tiring of the conversation and the Professor sensed it.

"The food was enough to feed several hundred people and the medical equipment was enough to supply two fully functioning hospitals…Logan I'm afraid that the base may be a cover for some illegal and inhumane acts."

The room was silent as what the Professor said sunk in, and a dark look passed over Logan's face. The Professor was worried that he may have been too abrupt and spoke again.

"There is no substantial proof to back up my theory, Logan. It is possible that-"

"You think they're experimentin' again." As he spoke Logan pulled out a cigar and started to smoke. Usually smoking was not permitted in the mansion, but Xavier allowed it.

"I am not sure, but I am sure that this mission is just a sweep no action is to be taken whatever the circumstances if you need backup you will wait for it."

"It's not like you ta just come ta this kind of conclusion Chuck."

"It was the person who contacted me Logan, she was screaming in agony."

"She?"

"Yes, it was a female scream."

A/N:

Well what did you think?

How did I portray Logan was he true to character or did I screw him up!

Please tell me what you think.

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-SP-