Sarabi carefully placed Baby X on the rooftop of a nicely designed old building. Sarabi wasn’t in New York anymore, in fact she wasn’t any place known by many people. Sarabi ran down the flight of stairs from the rooftop. She was in a museum of sorts. It was very different then any museum anyone has ever seen, and Sarabi smiled as she looked at a few of the exhibits. She made her way back into a room that wasn’t opened to the public. There, looking through a microscope was a man in a lab coat. Sarabi walked into the room with his back facing her. She quietly snuck up on him and was almost within reaching distance when he sighed.
“Long time no see Sarabi.” He said and turned around to face her. Sarabi pouted a little which make him laugh.
“I keep forgetting you have heightened senses Professor Lupin.” Sarabi said smiling. Lupin stood up and gave Sarabi a heart filled hug. Sarabi leaned back and looked at him. “How have you been Remus? Been successful with your werewolf formula?” Sarabi smiled at Remus. Remus sighed and motioned toward the table with the microscope. It was littered with vials of all different colors, scientific equipment, and a few other things Sarabi didn’t want to know about.
“So far I have had okay success with it. My body however gets use to the formula ever few months, so I am always having to make changes or completely reinvent it.” Remus said handing Sarabi a clipboard that had a lot of data on it. Sarabi flipped through it and then smiled at Lupin.
“You have been busy.” Sarabi said. Remus laughed quietly and sat down again.
“But something tells me you are not here to talk about my serum.” Remus looked hard at Sarabi and she smiled. She pulled the hard drive out of her pocket and waved it a little.
“I need some answers to things that are on this.” Remus took the hard drive and smiled. He rolled over to a computer that had its guts all over the table. He removed its hard drive and placed Sarabi’s into it. Remus pushed the on button and the computer hummed. Sarabi stood behind Remus as the DNA wallpaper came up. Remus laughed and looked at Sarabi.
“Do I want to know where you got this Sarabi?” he asked and Sarabi smiled leaning forward.
“Canadian Government.” Sarabi said smiling and clicked on the icon and then the file titled Weapon X and entered the password and Remus smiled even wider.
“How long did it take you to crack this one?” he asked.
“A couple of minutes.” Sarabi said shrugging and Remus laughed.
“You are slacking off Sarabi.” He said and then leaned toward the screen as Sarabi opened the file with DNA strands. Remus softly whistled.
“That’s your DNA Sarabi, and from what it looks like, they have been trying to clone it.” Remus took the mouse away from Sarabi and started looking around. “This one is male. A very old male, one that regenerates like you do.” Remus was carefully looking at the DNA strands. “Another very old regenerating male. They were trying to splice all three strands together.” Sarabi sighed and sat on the desk and looked at Remus.
“Can you find out why?” she asked. Remus leaned back in his chair and looked at Sarabi.
“First I need to know more about these males.” Remus told her and Sarabi shifted her feet a bit.
“I think I know them. At least it’s a pretty good assumption.” Sarabi said glancing a look at Remus, who laced his fingers and leaned back even more.
“Tell me about any other powers they may have.” Remus said. Sarabi stood and crossed her arms and started pacing the floor looking at her shoes.
“Well, they both have heighten senses, one had the metal Adamantium surgically grafted onto his skeleton. The other has catlike movements, can jump high and far and has teeth and claws that are strong enough to rip through bone. They both are masters of martial arts, vehicles, computers, weapons, explosives, and assassination techniques.” Sarabi looked at Remus whose eyebrows had risen.
“They sound pretty much like you. You did say that the Canadian Government doesn’t know you are the Fifth right?” Remus asked to which Sarabi sighed and shook her head.
“They found out not to long after I escaped.” Remus whistled and shook his head.
“There must be a good reason they want to combine them. But it makes no sense if you all have the same abilities, with the exception of your added abilities.”
“Unless they were trying to make a tremendously strong, smart, and immortal being with the Fifth Elements abilities.” Sarabi began to laugh. “To bad they don’t know that the Fifth Element’s abilities can’t be found in my DNA.” Remus smiled and shrugged.
“But they never were successful.” Remus said and looked around a bit more and sighed. “How much time do you have?” he asked. Sarabi looked at him funny and Remus smiled. “When do you need to get this hard drive back to the C.G.?” Sarabi smiled a wide smile that made Remus look at her. “I know that smile.”
“Let’s just say its yours for the playing, the Canadian Government isn’t going to need it back. Specially since they are just going to think that it was destroyed with the rest of the facility.” Remus smiled and looked at Sarabi carefully.
“Let me guess that you had something to do with the destruction of said facility?” Remus more or less stated then asked and Sarabi just smiled that made Remus shake his head. “It doesn’t surprise me. Did you get your stones?” Sarabi nodded and sighed. “You still teaching at the school?”
“Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, yes.” Sarabi leaned against the desk again and looked at Remus.
“I will contact you there then if I find anything more that may interest you.” Sarabi smiled and gave Remus a hug.
“You’re the best you know that Remus Lupin?” Sarabi stated to which Remus laughed.
“So you keep telling me.” Remus said laughing. Sarabi looked at Remus with adoring eyes.
“You know you are Remus. You are the only werewolf I know with such a caring heart.” At this Remus laughed.
“Sarabi, I am the only werewolf you know, so that’s not saying much.” Sarabi smiled and then shrugged.
“I have seen you in your werewolf form, and trust me when I say I wouldn’t want to know any other werewolves!” Remus chuckled as he watched Sarabi leave.
“Talk to you soon Sarabi.”
“I’ll count on it!” Sarabi yelled over her shoulder and smiled.
“She should have been here by now.” Logan said carefully eying Sabertooth and Toad. Jean laid a hand on Logan’s arm.
“Don’t worry so much Logan. She’s the Fifth Element, and you know she can take care of her self.” Jean gave him a smile. “Besides, you are wearing the Element Medallion, she won’t go to far away from it now that it’s complete.” Logan looked at Jean as she walked away from him and the window. Logan sighed and looked back out the window. Charles rolled into the room and looked from Logan to Sabertooth to Toad and sighed.
“Sarabi will return when she is ready Logan.” Logan turned and looked at Charles, and then finally sat down in a chair close to the window. Charles turned to Sabertooth and Toad. “You two are welcomed to stay, or you can leave.” Logan looked at Charles.
“Are you sure that is smart Charles?” Logan asked.
“The Canadian Government locked us up like animals, they didn’t care how long we have worked for them. If it wasn’t for Sarabi who knows what would have happened.” Sabertooth said walking towards Logan.
“How happy do you think Sarabi will be when she finds you here Victor?” Logan asked Sabertooth who crossed his arms and glared at Logan.
“How happy was she when she found you Logan?” Logan stood and faced Victor. Charles cleared his throat.
“At least I never intentionally hurt her.” Logan said. Victor laughed.
“How little you remember Logan.” Victor easily stood two feet taller than Logan who opened his mouth to say something but the mansion rumbled and shook. Both Logan and Victor looked out the window to see a small black jet landing on the front lawn.
“About time.” Logan said heading for the door. Sarabi smiled as she saw Logan heading towards the jet. Then she saw Scott, and thought about hiding somewhere in the jet. Sarabi had taken a little detour, one that left Baby X quite dirty, but still intact. But Scott was still going to get quite upset at her. Sarabi disembarked Baby X and was greeted with a look on Scott’s face she wouldn’t soon forget.
“What did you do?” Scott managed to say although his jaw was on the ground. Sarabi smiled.
“I only took her for a spin.” Sarabi said. Scott looked at Sarabi as Jean managed to suppress a laugh.
“Its brown Sarabi. X Jet 2 is suppose to be black not brown.” Scott stated.
“It washes off Scott, Baby X will be as good as new, all she needs is a bath.” Sarabi said as the tigers sat down next to her.
“Holy crap! That is one dirty jet mon ami!” Remy exclaimed with a smile as he walked up and ran a finger along the jet’s side leaving a clear black mark. Sarabi petted one of the tigers trying hard not to smile too much.
“If it is such a big deal Scott, I will just take her for a spin through the ocean and it should clean her right up.” Sarabi offered but it was greeted with a head shake from Scott.
“That’s quite alright Sarabi,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to even imagine what she would look like after that. I’ll just get some of the students to wash her.” Sarabi shrugged.
“Where did you go?” Sarabi turned to Logan as he stood there looking at her.
“I had to see an old friend. Then I took a detour home.” Sarabi would have continued but she caught sight of Victor and Toad heading their way. Sarabi slowly walked around Logan and stared at them. “Victor Creed.” Sarabi said then she looked at Toad. “And Mortimer Toynbee. What the hell are you two doing here?” At the mention of his name Toad cringed.
“I know you were to busy killing to notice that we too were caged up.” Victor said quietly, and Sarabi looked at him.
“The very people you trusted locked you up and threw away the key.” Sarabi stated not looking too happy. Toads looked at Victor and then back at Sarabi.
“If you want us to leave we will.” Victor said.
“Wait a minute,” Toad cut in. “Where are we suppose to go Sabertooth? Back to Canada so they have the chance to capture us again? No. I don’t care what you do, but I am staying right here where it’s safe.” Victor looked at Toad.
“What makes you so sure its safe here Mortimer?” Victor asked. Again Toad cringed.
“I know we haven’t been the nicest to you Sarabi, and I wouldn’t blame you if you hated us, but I don’t want to go back out there with them even thinking about what it was they wanted to do to me.” Toad’s eyes were actually pleading with Sarabi, and it took her by surprise. Sarabi glanced over to see Charles looking at her with his hands folded under his chin. Sarabi suddenly realized the decision was totally hers. Sarabi sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t care if you stay or if you go,” Toad smiled and Sarabi looked sternly at Victor. “But, if I even for a moment think you are here to harm anyone at this school…” Toad touched her arm.
“I think we know. We did after all got to see you fight to protect, and trust me, I sure in the hell don’t ever want to be on the receiving end of that.” Sarabi smiled at Toad and he visibly relaxed.
“Morty, you aren’t the one who worries me.” Sarabi said and Toad raised an eyebrow.
“Hey now, I can do some serious damage…” Sarabi laughed and looked at Victor.
“Duly noted.” Victor said and attempted a smile. Sarabi shook her head and walked towards the door, but Logan grabbed her arm.
“Are you crazy? They are apart of the Brotherhood of Mutants, you know they followed Magneto.” Sarabi looked at Logan and smiled.
“Yes I know Logan. Everyone deserves a second chance, don’t you think? And yes I am.” Sarabi began to walk across the lawn again leaving Logan there to watch her go.
“You are what” Logan called after her.
“Crazy.” Sarabi yelled as she shut the door behind her and the tigers
Sarabi slowly walked the length of her room and back again with both tigers on her bed watching every move she made. In her hand was the disc that held the file on Logan’s past. She kept looking at it and turning it over and over as she paced. Sarabi finally stopped and sighed. “He should know right?” Sarabi asked out loud and was greeted with a large yawn from one of the tigers. Sarabi glanced at her clock, 3:15 am. Sarabi plopped herself at the end of her bed and leaned back. She stared at the ceiling and again looked at the disc. “He wants to know. And all the information is right here in my hands.” Sarabi whispered and glanced at the tigers, both of them had their ears up and were intently listening to something. Sarabi listened and she heard it. It was soft at first, but got a little louder. Sarabi rolled off her bed and headed to the wall that separated her room from Logan’s and placed her ear against it. Sure enough the sound was coming from there.
Sarabi left her room and opened Logan’s door and peaked in. Logan was asleep on his bed, but he was dreaming, and from the sight, it wasn’t anything good. Sarabi walked up to his bed and looked at him. For the first time she wished she had Jean or Charles’ telepathic abilities. Sarabi watched Logan for a moment, only because all he was wearing was a pair of sweat pants and the sheet had been pulled down revealing his chest. Sarabi shook her head and rolled her eyes at her self then she leaned over and placed a hand on Logan’s shoulder. “Logan wake up.” She said softly but he didn’t respond so she leaned down close to his ear and shook him a little. “Logan wake up, you’re dreaming.” This time Logan’s eyes opened and seemed to focus on Sarabi. She stood there looking at him and then heard a familiar sound that automatically made her move away from him. But not soon enough. Logan’s claws hit their mark in to the soft flesh on Sarabi’s right side. “Logan wake up!” Sarabi yelled at him cringing in pain, but she was only greeted with an identical sound as the first one and soon felt the claws of Logan’s other hand go in between her ribs just missing her heart, but successfully piercing a lung. Sarabi, unable to say anything, raised her hand and slapped Logan across the face hard. The impact made him jerk and in turn the claws jerked inside her making it hurt even worst than before, but it did get the end result Sarabi was hoping for.
“Sarabi?” Logan said looking at her and then his eyes slowly traveled down and he saw both sets of claws in her. He immediately retracted them into his forearms and grabbed Sarabi’s shoulders. Sarabi placed a hand on each of his shoulders and looked at him.
“Bad dream Logan?” she whispered. Logan didn’t say anything, he just held on to her not wanting to let go. Sarabi closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.
“Are you okay?” Logan whispered like he didn’t trust his voice. Sarabi opened her eyes and looked and him then smiled.
“I’m fine. That’s not the first time I have had both sets of your claws driven into me.” Logan finally let Sarabi go and she slowly stood up right. Logan moaned and put his head in his hands. Sarabi sat down on his bed next to him and looked at the disc still in her hands.
“I keep dreaming about someplace, but I can’t remember where or what. All I know is the pain.” Logan said. “I try not to fall asleep because I always wake up fighting and last time I stabbed Rogue through the chest.” Sarabi bit her lower lip and then leaned against him and held out the disc. Logan looked at it then at Sarabi.
“The information contained on this disc may be some interest to you Logan. I downloaded the information from a computer at the compound before I destroyed it.” Sarabi stopped talking and took a small but deep breath. “Its information about you. Your old life and your life in the compound, all the stuff they did to you. Perhaps it will help you remember.” Logan slowly took the disc from Sarabi and then looked her in the eyes. Sarabi gave him a small smile. “You can use my laptop if you want.” Sarabi whispered her eyes going back to the disc. “That disc contains all the answers you have been looking for Logan.” Sarabi stood and walked out the door and went back to her room and just stood in the doorway. She felt like someone had a death grip on her heart. Perhaps it was because she knew what was on the disc, and in some ways didn’t want Logan to see it. Sarabi ran her fingers through her hair and nudged a tiger out of her way so she could have some bed space. Surprisingly, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow; something she didn’t think was going to happen at all that night.
Sarabi was in a deep sleep when Logan finally walked into her room about an hour after she had given him the disc. He quietly went over to the bed and looked at her. One of the tigers sleepily raised its head and gave Logan a tired look and went back to sleep. Logan looked at the disc he was holding, then at Sarabi. He reached out and softly touched her cheek that got only a small response from her, and then he quickly strode out of her room and headed for her office where her laptop would be sitting on her desk. Logan shut her office door behind him, she never kept it locked, and without turning on any lights went to her desk and pushed the small black button that made her laptop come to life. After the thirty-second boot up, Logan slipped the disc in the A drive and opened her computer file. He stared at the little icon and slowly moved the mouse pointer over it. He took a deep breath before double clicking on it. The file opened quickly and Logan looked at the screen. He started to read the information and was soon lost to the world.
Sarabi looked so peaceful lying there sleeping that Logan didn’t want to wake her. He sat on the side of her bed just looking at her. The way her hair softly curled on her cheek. The way she slept with her hand up by her mouth. “I thought we all ready went through this.” Logan jumped as Sarabi rolled over to face him with a soft smile. “What time is it?” Sarabi asked rubbing her eyes and sitting up.
“About six thirty in the morning.” Logan said softly. Sarabi sighed and carefully looked at Logan.
“So, did you find you answers?” she asked not really looking at him. Logan touched Sarabi’s cheek and she looked at him.
“Thank you.” Logan said and kissed her on the cheek. Sarabi just looked at him. There was a silence between them.
“Should you really be thanking me?” Sarabi whispered.
“That’s not what I am thanking you for Sarabi.” Sarabi looked at Logan and smiled.
“Then what do you thank me for?”
“I know it must have been somewhat hard for you to hand me that disc. Knowing what was on it, knowing what happened in the compound.” Logan would have continued but Sarabi raised a hand to stop him.
“Logan, I gave you that disc so I wouldn’t have to verbally tell you everything, and in doing so keeping me from remembering it all. But, all I had to do was look at you and things came back. You know, you’ve seen it happen. There is no way that I can keep from remembering. I have realized that I shouldn’t try not to remember, but use those memories to make me stronger. And I guess in giving you that disc I was kind of hoping you would do the same. But it is up to you.” Sarabi had sat up to give her little speech, and Logan was sitting there with a smile on his face. “What?”
“All that and you didn’t even take a single breath.” Logan said. Sarabi looked down at her hands with a small smile.
“I wanted to get that out and if I took a breath that would give you a chance to say something, and I didn’t want you to say anything until I was finished. Which by the way, is that all you have to say?”
“I do have a lot to think about don’t I?”
“Logan, all I ask is that the things that happened in the past stay there you know?” Logan looked at Sarabi with a raised eyebrow.
“Everything?” He asked quietly. Sarabi smiled and placed her hand on Logan’s cheek.
“I meant the things with Victor.” She said looking at Logan carefully. Logan’s expression changed.
“I don’t even remember her Sarabi. It doesn’t seem right to be mad at someone for something you don’t remember.” Sarabi leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
“That’s good to know.”
“Although, there are some things I wish I did remember.” Logan said looking at Sarabi from the corner of his eye. Sarabi shifted and then sat up fully. She didn’t say anything.
“I am sure there are things you wish you could remember, like there are a lot of things I wish I could forget. Sometimes I wish we could trade places.” Sarabi spoke in a soft tone as she tried to stop remembering anything about her past.
“I’m sorry for saying earlier that you got out of everything without any scratches.” Logan said releasing a breath. “I find myself being sorry for a lot of things suddenly.”
“I’ve been sorry for many things in my life. I’m sorry I couldn’t help my father when he needed me the most, I’m sorry for falling in love with the man who ended up killing him and me, I’m almost sorry for not staying in Egypt, I’m sorry for not being as strong as I should be in the times when it most matters.” Sarabi said pulling her legs up to her chest. Logan looked at her for a moment.
“How can you say that you are not strong Sarabi? I have seen you throw grown men across the room, I have seen your strength when you needed it.” Sarabi shook her head.
“I don’t have strength when I let my heart call the shots.” Sarabi said annoyed with herself. “My father would have lived longer if I wasn’t blinded to the man who eventually killed him.”
“You don’t know that.” Logan said but Sarabi just shook her head.
“Logan, you yourself are an example of my strength leaving me when I needed it.” Sarabi said then bit her lip in frustration. Logan looked at her for a moment and then he looked at the disc.
“You are talking about the Adamantium.” Logan said quietly and Sarabi sighed and threw off her covers.
“Yes.” She said as she stood. “You wouldn’t have it if it wasn’t for me, and you now know that.” Sarabi grabbed the doorknob of her door and yanked it open and screamed. She quickly recovered from the sight of Remus Lupin standing on the other side of the door with his fist raised to knock.
“I usually don’t get that kind of reaction in my human form.” Remus said wide-eyed. Sarabi removed her hand from her mouth so she could speak.
“I’m so sorry Remus, I didn’t expect anyone to be standing there at this time in the morning. Jeez Remus, have you slept yet? You look horrible!” Sarabi exclaimed getting a real good look at him. Remus smiled and walked past Sarabi into her room. Sarabi left the door open and went back to sit on her bed. Both tigers were now standing at full attention on her bed and were watching every move Remus made.
“Its alright Sarabi, I have grown quite use to people screaming in my direction, and I do apologize for the fright, and no, I haven’t slept as of yet, I have been looking around that hard drive you gave me and I have found some interesting things I thought you would like to know about. As for the time, most people have already left for work by 6 am.” Remus smiled at Sarabi as he took a seat in a nearby chair. “Where’s your computer?”
“Its in my office downstairs. How, how did you get through the gates?” Sarabi asked still not completely over her shock.
“Cerebro knows me, this isn’t the first visit I have made to the institute. Shall we go to your office then?” Remus stood obviously excited by his discoveries. Sarabi stood and shook her head. How could she have forgotten that Remus has been there before? Sarabi headed for the door when a low growl was heard behind her. She turned around and looked at Logan.
“Don’t look at me. I’m not the one growing.” Logan said pointing to the tiger closest to him. His hackles were standing on end and his teeth were bared. He was looking right at Remus who had moved to follow Sarabi. Sarabi smiled and leaned toward Remus.
“They know what you are Remus.” She said. Remus looking away from the tiger to Sarabi smiled.
“I am not surprised. Probably didn’t help you screaming at the sight of me either.” He said. Sarabi laughed and rubbed her forehead. A moment of silence and the tiger laid down again, but still kept his eye on Remus. “Do I dare ask what you told him about me?” Remus asked knowing full well what had just happened. Sarabi smiled and it touched her eyes.
“You can ask. But you might not want to know.” She said as she walked out of her room. Remus stood there for a moment looking at the space where Sarabi had just been before following her out. A second later he poked his head back into her room and looked at Logan.
“You may want to hear this also, since I take it you are one of the two regenerating males that are found on this hard drive.” Remus said to a suddenly confused Logan who stood and followed Remus out.
Sarabi sat in her chair with a sigh and put her feet on her desk. Remus and Logan walked in shutting the door behind them. Logan sat on the edge of Sarabi’s desk and they both looked at Remus. “Remember when I told you that it looked like the Canadian Government were combining your DNA plus the other two regenerating males?” Remus asked Sarabi and she nodded. “They were. And they did it too. But not to try and create another being, but to create a serum that will stop regeneration.” Sarabi sighed.
“We know Remus, they have already used it, and it does work quite well I may add.” She said grimacing at the memory.
“Really?” Remus asked a little to excited.
“Wait. How does he know this?” Logan finally asked looking at Sarabi.
“Remember earlier when I took that little detour? I stopped off at Remus’ and gave him the hard drive of the computer I had found in the compound before I collapsed it.” Sarabi explained which was followed by a yawn.
“About the serum…” Remus started but a look from Sarabi made him stop.
“It works.” She said rubbing her chest right above her heart.
“I take it you are speaking from experience?” Remus asked to which Sarabi nodded. “And the stones, they healed you?” Remus continued and again Sarabi nodded but this time with a yawn. Remus reached for a bag that Sarabi did not notice before and pulled out a syringe with a needle to which she gave him a look. “There’s a small chance it is still in your blood and if it is, perhaps I can create something to defend against it.” Sarabi offered Remus her arm with a grimace.
“She’ll need all the help she can get.” A voice said from the door of her office. It was Cornelius. “I created the serum much to my displeasure, but I added something the Canadian government knows nothing about.” Sarabi pulled back her arm and was thankful she didn’t need to give up any more blood.
“Remus meet Dr. Cornelius, Dr. Cornelius meet Remus Lupin.” Sarabi said, Remus stood and shook hands with Cornelius. “I have heard much about you Dr. Cornelius.” Remus said to which Cornelius laughed.
“Please call me Cornelius, and I hope you haven’t heard anything to awful about me.” Remus smiled.
“Call me Lupin. And nothing to awful believe me.” Cornelius laughed at this and Sarabi slapped her hand down on her desk.
“Well, now that you two are introduced and all, I think I am going to go back to my room and either go back to bed or actually decide what I am going to do with this day.” Sarabi said standing with a smile. “ You’re welcome to use my office for what ever you two are cooking up, but try and leave it in this condition when you are done.” Sarabi threw a knowing smile over her shoulder at Remus, who caught her meaning quite well and gave her a small weak smile in return.
Sarabi sat at the end of her bed letting her mind wander. She was absentmindedly petting one of the tigers who was chuffing loudly. Sarabi looked at the tiger and blinked. “I should probably give you two names shouldn’t I?” Sarabi whispered to the tiger. The tiger looked up at her and half closed it’s large gold eyes.
“We never had names before.” It told her.
“They never referred to us as anything less then those beasts.” Sarabi smiled softly.
“What would you like to be called?” Sarabi thought tracing one of the many stripes along its back. The tigers looked at each other and back to Sarabi.
“What would you recommend?” Sarabi sighed and leaned back against the other tiger.
“Something fitting, something majestic.” Sarabi said softly. She closed her eyes in thought, but she wasn’t thinking of names.
“Why do you keep it all inside?” Sarabi opened her eyes.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“All the pain and memories.” Sarabi didn’t say anything. “We can feel your pain, even though you try desperately to hide it, and normally you do well. But there have been recent events that have brought it all up to the surface, and you don’t know what to do with it all.”
“Feelings you thought you had under complete control are now completely out of control.” Sarabi stood and walked around her room.
“I am used to keeping them hidden. They are of no use to me in real life.” Sarabi stated. The tigers looked at each other and smiled.
“Are they not what you use to fuel your fire?” Sarabi stopped walking around and looked at the two tigers. After a moment she smiled.
“I suppose I do use them to fuel my fire, as you say. But I don’t...I don’t knowingly use them.” Sarabi again sat on the edge of her bed.
“Perhaps you should face what hurts you most.” At this Sarabi laughed.
“Did I not just do that?” She asked.
“What you did was face one of the things you feared.” Sarabi sighed.
“One can only take so much in just a short time.”
“Did it not make you feel better to destroy the compound?”
“It makes me feel better to know it will never be used again for what it was being used for.”
“Do you really believe that will stop them?”
“Stryker is dead. He headed up the Weapon X program.”
“They can and will find someone else.” Sarabi sighed.
“I know. But at least they have been slowed down a bit.” One of the tigers stood and stretched.
“That may be for now.” It told her.
“What would you have me do? Attack the whole Canadian Government?” The tigers looked at her and Sarabi moaned. “I can only do so much.” She whispered. A large head softly rested on her abdomen.
“What you can do will be more than enough, more than you can ever know.”
“Let’s talk about you for a change. What on earth were the two of you doing at that compound?” Sarabi was greeted by silence. “I see. It’s all good when you’re talking about me and my fears, but when it comes to you…”
“As with anyone who has come to that place, we to were prisoners.”
“What do they need with tigers?”
“They wanted to use us to get to you in the beginning. But unfortunately your friends arrived. They didn’t know they were coming, but security went off and they were discovered.” Sarabi laid there.
“Stryker didn’t know they were coming?”
“He didn’t find out until they set off the security alarm. Stryker always figured if you ever returned you would use the same route you used to escape.”
“Nothing went off when I did show up.”
“He knew you would come. If you ever had a weakness, it was that you cared too much. That’s why you didn’t leave sooner than you did before.” Sarabi sat up and looked at the tigers.
“How do you know…?”
“We were there then too. Your connection to the one they called Wolverine was your only reason for staying there as long as you did.”
“I wasn’t going to leave him to their mercy.”
“But he came back after you left.” Sarabi snorted.
“That was his damn fault. I had told him to leave Canada, but no one ever listens to me it would seem.”
“Perhaps there was something keeping him from leaving.”
“Only his damn vengeance ego. Couldn’t leave well enough alone that one.”
“Are you sure that’s all that kept him?” Sarabi looked at the tiger in wonder.
“I don’t really know.” She whispered. The tiger smiled. “I think I will call you two Ying and Yang.” Sarabi stated to which the tigers chuffed in laugher.
“We’re not Chinese.” Sarabi shrugged.
“Still seems to fit.” She said and walked into her bathroom. Sarabi stared at herself in the mirror. She looked at the person who stared back at her. She was a few thousand years old and she still looked like she was in her early 20s. Why was she given this life? What was the point of her living for so long? Sarabi closed her eyes tight and wished that when she opened them everything would be different. But she knew it wasn’t going to happen. With a sigh she walked back out her bathroom door and out into the hall. She didn’t really know where she was heading, but she kept walking. Suddenly without warning a feeling came over her and the hallway swam around her. Sarabi reached out to steady herself, but there wasn’t anything close by. She closed her eyes and when she opened them she wasn’t standing in the hall of the institute any more.
She was standing in a surgical theater. In the middle of the room there was a water-filled plexiglass tank the size of a lidless coffin. An array of stainless-steel machines crowded around the tank, including a series of robotic arms that taper into foot-long needles. Sarabi's heart sped up a little as she realized where she was and when it was. Her eyes snapped to one of the walls that was nothing but glass and behind the glass she saw Stryker looking out at her with his hands behind his back. Dr. Cornelius and several others were entering data into computers. Carol Hines and two medical technicians walked into the theater with Logan between them. All three headed towards her where she stood beside the tank.
"James..." Sarabi whispered when he reached her.
"I know." He said and her eyes flicked to Stryker before going to Hines then back to Logan.
"You did listen then." She stated and Logan nodded. "And your hatred of your brother is so great that you do not care?" It may have been a few years now since she was awakened for the last time but there were still some emotions and actions she didn't completely understand.
"He needs to be stopped." Logan said and Sarabi nodded her agreement.
"We can stop him. There is no need of Stryker and his experiments." Logan gave Sarabi a smile and reached up cupping her cheek.
"Are you afraid of loosing me?" He asked slightly teasing her.
"Yes." Sarabi answered slightly surprised at her own answer. "You are the only one left." Sarabi explained. "I am not quite used to..."
"Being on your own?" Logan smiled at her then kissed her cheek. "Have faith." Sarabi raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"There is something to be said about ego." Sarabi said as Logan removed his robe then handed it to her.
"See you on the other side." Logan said stepping into the tank.
"I had better." Sarabi stated taking a step back to allow one of the technicians to fasten a breathing tube connected to an oxygen tank to Logan's mouth. Logan laid down submerging himself in the water, the technician clamped Logan's wrists and ankles into place with the stainless steel shackles bolted to the plexiglass walls. The robotic arms swiveled into place, poised above Logan and Sarabi took a step closer to the tank. Logan's eyes met hers and she took a deep breath.
Hines had joined Cornelius, Stryker, General Munson and Agent Zero in the control room and sat down next to Cornelius as he studied some print outs.
"Adamantium temperature?" Cornelius asked.
"Steady at eighty-two eleven." a technician answered.
"Feed lines clear?" Cornelius asked
"Lines one through twelve clear." another technician answered.
"Prepare insertion." Cornelius commanded.
The robotic arms descended into the tank towards Logan. The needles began to spin like massive power drills churning the water as they entered making Sarabi take a step back. Logan closed his eyes when the needles entered his body.
"Commence feed." Cornelius said looking at the computer in front of him and not out in the theater like everyone else. The technicians typed commands into the keyboard of their computers watching images of what was going on below them on their screens.
Logan writhed in the tank as the needles drill into his bones, including his skull. Sarabi looked up at the control center and growled.
"Feed commenced at a rate of twenty nine cc's per second"
"Density probe indicates preliminary chelation of the compact tissue." the technicians reported.
"Body temperature?" Cornelius asked them.
"One sixty." Hines answered. Stryker turned to the General with a slight smile.
"You're witnessing medical history in the making. We've begun bonding adamantium to Weapon X's skeleton." Stryker explained.
"We tried to use that stuff for tank armor. Too damn expensive." The General replied his eyes never leaving the tank below.
"It took us three years to prepare enough alloy for the skeleton." Stryker stated glancing over to the tank.
"So if this works, I guess Weapon X won't be walking through any metal detectors." The General joked and Stryker chuckled.
"If this works, General, Weapon X will walk wherever he wants." Stryker looked back at the tank with a smile that quickly disappeared when he met Sarabi's eyes. She could hear everything that was being said and she wasn't thrilled. He let a breath he was unknowingly holding when Sarabi looked back at Logan as Logan started to spasm in the tank like a man being electrocuted.
"Heart rate one ninety." Hines reported
"Density?" Cornelius asked
"Four four seven." one of the technicians answered.
"How long before he's mission operative?" The General asked.
"Remains to be seen. We're in uncharted territory here." Stryker answered.
"Uncharted territory is a pretty good description of your budget, Colonel. This doesn't work, you can kiss the Eleven good-bye." General Munson informed Stryker making him turn to look at the General.
"We need the Eleven. Our victory in the war to come depends on it."
"Not everyone in the Pentagon thinks there's gonna be a war."
"Oh, it's coming General. The enemy walks among us. We'd better be prepared." Stryker turned back to the surgical theater.
Sarabi was trying to make sense of Stryker's comment when Logan began to thrash about in the tank violently. His eyes rolled back into their sockets and hot steam began to rise off the water. Sarabi reached out and placed her hand on the side of the tank as her eyes turned green.
"Body temperature one zero eight. Heart rate two ten. Sir-" Hines reported with concern then turned to Stryker.
"He's a warrior, Hines. He can handle it." Stryker said.
"Density?" Cornelius asked.
"Probe rejected, sir." a technician reported.
"Is there a problem?" General Munson asked and Stryker smiled.
"On the contrary. The probe is diamond-tipped. It's not hard enough to penetrate adamantium." Stryker responded.
"Heart rate two twenty five. Sir, we're well beyond maximum-" Hines was clearly concerned now.
"You're trained to care for humans, Doctor. Weapon X is not one of us." Stryker snapped at her and she glared at him before looking to the tank.
"Chelation near completion." one of the technicians reported.
"Heart rate two forty four... two fifty... two fifty seven..." Hines reported.
"Adamantium reservoir ninety percent depleted."
"Core temperature one hundred and nineteen degrees." Hines said. Stryker leaned close to the glass, watching Logan's agony with sweat beads on his forehead.
"Easy now" Stryker said softly.
"Heart rate three fifteen." Hines reported just before the line went straight. Silence filled the control room as everyone, even Agent Zero looked at the steaming tank.
"Well I guess he can die." Zero stated. Stryker stood staring at the tank a little bit longer then turned from the window and began to worry.</p> <p>"James?" Sarabi whispered kneeling beside the tank looking at a now still Logan. "This is not acceptable." She said trying to not give in to her emotions. Logan didn't move and she couldn't feel a thing from him. She could still hear the heart monitor give a steady beep which she had come to learn meant only one thing. "You said to have faith," Sarabi whispered pressing her forehead against the warm glass of the tank. "I have faith in you." The heart monitor sound changed, indicating a single heart beat. Sarabi stared through the water at Logan placing both hands firmly against the glass. "Come on James, come back. We're not finished yet."
The change hadn't gone unnoticed in the control room. Stryker turned back around and looked out at the theater.
"Bring him back Sarabi." He whispered and General Munson leaned towards Stryker.
"Can she do that?" The General asked and Stryker shrugged.
"I don't know." Stryker answered.
"Heart rate rising." Hines announced.
"Adamantium reservoir depleted." a technician announced to Cornelius who for the first time since the procedure started looked out the window.
"No rejection. Procedure completed." Cornelius said almost in awe.
"We did it." Stryker announced
"We did it." Cornelius confirmed amazed. Stryker slapped his hands down on a desk in celebration.
"We taking him to the Island?" Agent Zero asked.
"The Island?" Stryker answered. "No. The bonding works, we use his DNA for the Eleven. Erase his memory." Stryker commanded. Cornelius blinked and Sarabi's eyes snapped open. "Erase his memory." Stryker repeated.</p> <p>Sarabi jumped back to her feet when adamantium claws busted from Logan's hand shimmering underwater. She didn't have time to get away from the take before Logan broke free of his restraints and stood up yelling in pain, betrayal and anger. The needles, tubes and wires fell away from his body and Sarabi took a couple steps back drenched in water.</p> <p>Cornelius and the technicians slowly stood and backed away from the window. General Munson stared in awe at Logan.
"I think he heard you." Agent Zero said. Everyone now backed up against the back wall and Agent Zero fired off a couple of shots at Logan and Sarabi watched as they merely bounced off Logan's skull.
"Lock down!" Stryker yelled. Sarabi looked up at Logan and shook her head.
"James, it's time to go." She stated and Logan jumped out of the tank towards her.</p> <p>Together they ran as bullets began to rain down on them.
“Sarabi?” a voice said. Sarabi was swimming in darkness but it began to lighten. She felt a hand on her shoulder gently shaking her. “Sarabi.” Logan’s voice floated through her ears. Sarabi opened her eyes and she saw Logan and Jean on either side of her.
“This is getting really, really bad.” Sarabi said sitting up.
“What happened?” Jean asked as Sarabi swung her feet over the side of the medical bed and put her head in her hands.
“Flashback.” Sarabi said simply then placed her hands on either side of her and slid off the bed. “How long was I out?”
“A couple of hours, that we know about.” Sarabi looked at Jean. “Kitty is the one who found you, and you were already laying on the floor of the hall.”
“Tell me exactly what happened Sarabi.” It was Charles. Sarabi took a deep breath. “Well I was walking down the hall and suddenly I got this feeling and the hallway began to swim, and then I was back in the compound.” Charles had raised his hand.
“I know what flashback you had. For some reason it was channeled into my mind.” Sarabi looked at Charles funny then just shook her head and began to walk out of the medical room.
“Where are you going?” Jean asked as Sarabi left.
“Back to bed.” Sarabi replied without slowing down.
Links
Next Chapter
Fan Fiction Home
X-Men Home
Home
