Zero Hour II
Chapter 1
by
Nina



Disclaimer: All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are © and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities.All rights reserved.

Author's Note: Warning: Contains mature language and violent scenes. Wolverine,Sabertooth, Danger Room. Need I say more?

PS: In my mind's eye, the X-Men should be able to run Danger Room scenarios without "monitors" if they rank high enough on the team. So, my muse wins as far as that's concerned. Also, I see Sabertooth as a psycho, so I portrayed him as one - mind games at all. Again if you have a problem, talk to my muse. She's driving.




It wasn't like he didn't know. Hell, Nada's scent wafted from her every pore, stung from her cheeks. She was familiar, all right. Dangerously familiar. The truth of who she was brought up old, hidden feelings that he didn't want to admit. He wanted to run from them, to escape, but he couldn't. He felt trapped.

And Storm wasn't listening.

"God-DAMMIT--!"

He slammed his fist into the Danger Room wall. His fist, filled with adamantium, dented the side, and he knew there'd be hell to pay if Scott found out. So what. Danger Room meant danger and hell, he was sure in a dangerous mood.

"Computer. Run Sabertooth Scenario Eighteen."

"Warning. Scenario potentially lethal. Recommend contacting additional X-Men to monitor Control Booth."

"No. Run Sabertooth Scenario Eighteen. Now."

A small beep signaled the change. He bared his teeth and growled as the room morphed into a jungle forest. It stank of old blood and burning iron, and the sounds of Viet Cong and metal music blared through the speakers, surrounding him.

"Dramatic, ain'tcha, Runt?"

The voice trickled through the trees, teasing him. He programmed this Sabertooth especially well - too well, almost. This one knew he was in the Xavier Danger Room, and Wolverine had designed him to play with his prey first.

"Well, well, well. Look who's got jungle fever."

Wolverine felt his control slip. He panted heavily. "Come out, Creed!"

"Sweets wants ta play now. Fine. You think you ready for me, girlfriend?"

"You know I am."

A tank exploded from behind, but Wolverine didn't pay any attention to it. He knew it was a diversion. Burning shrapnel sizzled across his back but he ignored it.

Didn't matter. Creed dropped from the trees above him, and raked his thick claws into the smaller man's back. Wolverine grimaced and reached back with his adamantium claws, but Creed had already jumped free.

Sabertooth disappeared into the shadows. He knew exactly how to hide and the strong scent of charred metal and bodies covered his fleeting tracks.

"Ain't we slow t'night," Creed whispered. "You're distracted, huh? Bet yer dick's gotcha in trouble again. Sweet, fresh meat. . .Gotta have me one-a them X-frails. Can't wait to feel 'em inside-a me."

Keep talkin,' Creed. Wolverine moved through the jungle like he was part of it, and avoided the mines by stepping on shrapnel and bodies. Your big mouth's gonna give you away.

"Mmmm, yeah. X-girl's on the menu. I heard yer heart skip, Runt, so I know you're pining for an X-girl. Yer too soft. You fall fer ev'ry walkin' cunt on two legs. Who's it today? Red? Juju? Kit-Kat? Roguie? Stormy?"

Sabertooth paused, and Wolverine crouched low to match the silence.

"Heh, heh. Yer heart skipped another beat, Runt. Gotcha. Hearts can't lie. I know it, an' you know it. Tear it out, boy. No heart, no feelin'. Hell, I'll even show ya how it's done."

Wolverine crawled underneath a hot tank and slowed his breath.

"She's pretty, I kinda agree. Don't go for dark meat much, but they all rip up nice an' pretty. And every last one of 'em's Indian red inside."

Creed's voice was getting closer. Wolverine felt himself losing more and more of himself. He was looking forward to ripping Creed to shreds.

"You hidin,' Runt?" Sabertooth jumped into the clearing, and Wolverine saw every inch of his hulking, tangled brutality.Creed took small steps towards the tank.

That's it, mouth. C'mon. Keep walkin'.

"Hidin' ain't too sporty of ya, Wolvie. Kinda cowardly. But, I bet I can bring ya out. Watch this trick: Computer, get me Storm."

Wolverine ground his teeth. He'd programmed this Creed to call up anybody or anything against him. Sabertooth could neither change the intensity of the program, nor the scenario, but he could play with anything else in the entire database.

A facsimile of Storm floated nearby, poised to strike.She looked lifelike.

"Ooh, lookie what I got, Runt. A new toy."

"Will you cease and desist, or must we defeat you, once again?"

Sabertooth laughed, nodding. " 'Cease an' desist.' I like that. Talks just like the real thing, Logan. She bleed like the real thing, too?"

A lightning bolt flashed from the ceiling, nailing Sabertooth in the face and flinging him into a tree. The man howled with rage and clawed at his face and, despite himself, Wolverine chuckled. He scooted out from under the tank while Sabertooth rubbed his eyes. The diversion would be enough to -

"Computer!" Sabertooth roared. "Immobilize Storm!"

Wolverine couldn't take his eyes away. Storm struggled, alive, as if invisible bonds held her.

"Logan--? What is this?"

Sabertooth got to his feet. His laugh was guttural and ugly. The skin around his eyes was charred black, but his healing factor had already caused pink flesh to bubble around his cheekbones.

"Fuck this game shit, Wolverine. Let's do this right."

"Logan--! I - I'm trapped. . . You must - "

"Let her go."

Sabertooth grinned at him. "No. I want you good an' mad." Wolverine didn't have time to react. Sabertooth grabbed Storm in one hand and ripped apart her belly with his other. Her intestines spilled onto the ground, but she was still alive. . . screaming.

"NO!"

"Quit yer bellyachin'," he said, laughing at his own joke. "She's still alive. Watch."

Creed aimed for her chest and ripped a surgical line down the center of her torso. Storm began going into convulsions. He tore back her skin and exposed her heart. "See? Still beatin'."

"Mother fucker--!"

Wolverine flew at him with claws outstretched as Sabertooth dropped the dying Storm figure.

"Yeah, baby. You know what I like." Sabertooth crouched low and waited for Wolverine to hit him point blank.

"Computer!" Wolverine growled. "Immobilize Sabertooth."

"Whaa--? C'mon! You ain't pl - "

Sabertooth didn't have time to answer. Wolverine jabbed his claws into his throat, and ripped his body from voice box to kneecap. Sabertooth screamed, but Wolverine wasn't done. He stabbed the man in the belly and began carving. Red spurted across his claws as he stabbed through Sabertooth's heart, stomach, and lungs. Tissue and flesh hung from his claws. When Sabertooth's screams became dull moans, it fueled his fire. He started laughing.

He drew back his arm for another round but a new, calm voice thundered across the room.

"Computer. End program."

Sabertooth and the jungle disappeared. Wolverine snarled, seeing nothing but a sizzling, smoking robot on the end of his claws. "Bring him back! I wasn't done."

"Yes, you were."

His growl intensified, and it took all of his strength to bring him back from the edge. He panted loudly at the robot and blinked sweat from his brow, and froze his body until he could take normal breaths.

"Now. Would you mind telling me what that was about?"

"Yeah. I would mind." He kicked the robot across the room where it bumped into the wall and broke into several pieces.

"I have not seen you so angry in a very long time, Logan."

He found his towel where he left it, on a chair in a corner. He mopped his face and headed for the exit. "Maybe you ain't seen me in a very long time."

Ororo entered the doorway and blocked his escape. He scowled, but didn't snap at her. He already felt stupid and embarrassed.

"Can you at least explain what prompted your outburst? You have seen my robot double killed in other Danger Room sessions. Do you enjoy coming to my rescue that much?" Her delicate lips curved in a partial smile, which diffused a lot of his shame. He almost smiled back.

"It's complicated, 'Ro. But. . . thanks fer bringin' me from the brink. It coulda got ugly."

She stepped aside and let him pass. "It already seemed that way, from my point of view. Wait - Logan. . . "

He stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around. "Yeah? What?"

At her long pause he glanced over his shoulder. Ororo had weaved her long, dark fingers together, and she was staring at them.

"Please. I think we should talk. I - I cannot bear this secrecy between us."

He sighed. Her concern actually got to him. "Lemme get cleaned up, 'Ro. We can go for a walk out back. A walk will do us both some good."

She nodded. Her soft blue eyes made him feel as immobilized as the robots in the Danger Room.

"Thank you."

"Yer welcome," he whispered. He walked away slowly, but was surprised by the ache in his chest.



CHAPTERS:   1   2   3   4




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