THE REVENGE OF CHEN YU

Part IV: Claws of Metal, Claws of Bone

By David Wheatley

Logan awoke to find himself in a cavern. The last thing he’d felt was the building falling all around him as the mountain collapsed and he knew he was lost. He’d allowed the darkness to take him, to spare him the agonies of suffocating under the rock.

Now he was here. In a small cavern, in the realm of magic he had just left.

“CHEN YU!” he called and looked around. The sorcerer didn’t have the power to save them and even then he wouldn’t have saved them both. However there were some scents in the air, ones he recognised.

Chen Yu was here, older somehow. As was Gomurr, though he seemed a lot older. Adam Destine was about too, though his scent hadn’t changed – due to the fact he was totally invulnerable. There were other scents. A woman, who had the scent of death around her, yet somehow faded, the unmistakable taints of the Undercloaks he had fought before and another.

“What the flamin’?” he said as he recognised the scent.

~SNICKT!~

He unsheathed his claws to make sure he was who he thought he was. The metal gleamed in the low light. He watched them a moment and then withdrew them back in to himself and tasted the air again. There was no mistaking it – he was Weapon X, however his senses were not lying to him and there was only one way to find the answers, and following the scents he made his way towards the gathering.

He arrived in time to see the woman make a sacrifice for someone called Nina, Chen Yu cast the spell and Destine be cast in to the Crimson Dawn. He was about to call out when he saw a mystically bound Gomurr talking to someone else, also bound by magic. Someone he recognised every time he looked in the mirror.

~SNICKT!~ 

The claws came out again and in an instant he had moved over and freed the captives, and were sheathed just as quickly. The enemy were too busy celebrating their return to life.

“Logan?” asked Gomurr, but Weapon X wasn’t listening. His double looked at him.

“Bub,” he said, looking his rescuer in the eye. At this range, Weapon X could see through the white slits in the mask. The lights in the eyes were older, they had a pain more pronounced than most and he looked as if he carried more weight on his soul than most men would deal with in several lifetimes.

“This the future?” he asked.

“Yup,” said Wolverine, adjusting his mask. “We have some unfinished business to take care of.” He turned to look at Chen Yu, who bent Elektra down low as he kissed her, and she did not resist. Weapon X looked at his older self whose eye slits narrowed as he saw them.

“She important to you? To us?”

“As important as Heather Hudson,” came the reply and both of them shouted at once.

“CHEN YU! NOW ITS OUR TURN!”

Chen Yu broke off the kiss in time to look up and see both of them stand battle ready and release their claws.

~SNICKT!~ ~SCHLUKT!~ 

Both of them looked at the other’s claws, both with a sign of loss, however to Wolverine’s surprise, there was no shock at the bone.

“You take the girl, I’ll take the wizard,” said Weapon X and Logan nodded in reply and both leapt to the fray, only to be met by the Hand. No word was spoken as they started slashing their way through, but as fast as the Hand died another was reborn to take the dead one’s place.

“Not that easy, eh, little animals?” smiled Chen Yu and took Elektra by the hand, to ready her for a joining ceremony that would bind her to the Hand for all time.

Adam Destine could feel the power of the Ebon Vein draining him of vitality, which was replaced by the magics that surrounded him. It wasn’t painful, which surprised him a great deal. It was more a tingling feeling, perhaps akin to being dissolved in acid which was said to be quite pleasurable if you could get past the fact you’re body was disintegrating molecule by molecule and the loss of body parts didn’t kill you.

He’d seen it on his travels through space where it was a form of death penalty for accidental killings, however he was digressing. His mind was wandering, and he knew that unless he was freed that would happen for all time, until he had no more thoughts left and started to go mad with it.

Unable to speak he could only think to himself, trying to work away of escape. There was nothing to propel himself with, so pulling himself out was not possible, neither was pushing. He moved his arms in a flapping motion to see if that would dislodge him but it did no good.

:::Adam::: came Gomurr’s voice in his head. Gomurr was not a telepath, so it must have been something mystical that allowed this, perhaps an aspect of the Crimson Dawn connecting to its proctor. Maybe he even imagined it, but then he heard it again. :::Adam:::

:::I hear you, my friend:::

:::We may end this yet. Logan has arrived:::

:::As we planned. Is he from the past or future?:::

:::From the past. At a point when he has the metal within him:::

:::Excellent. The plan is still viable?:::

:::Needs a reworking, but yes. We’ll deal with the past Logan when the time comes:::

:::Then get me out of here. Chen Yu has miscalculated:::

:::How?:::

:::He heard the plan from Newton whilst watching my children. He heard the wrong plan:::

:::And you couldn’t tell me because of what was happening:::

:::Exactly. How much power do you have?:::

:::We’ll find out. Tar and I have been working on this spell for years, whether it will work is another story:::

:::You can but try my friend, and the sooner I’m free, the sooner the Hand will stop rising from the dead:::

:::Be patient, Adam. I’ll start now:::

As soon as I agreed, I felt the magic take a hold of me, as my soul was linked to his, bound and subservient. I could feel his lips press on to mine, as he bent me down like a rag doll, and try as I might I could not break free. As his tongue met mine, I felt the desire to wretch but the hold he had on me prevented it.

Now he is dragging me by the hand down the catacombs of the realm and I can do nothing except weep inside at the deal I have made. For the soul of Nina there is no choice. The missing part of my soul will be rejoined with that I currently have, after it is removed from me. Then the whole will be replaced and I will be wed to the Master of the Hand in blood.

My soul will be part of the Hand, I will be their Master’s consort to be used as he sees fit, and I can never be released, not even by death for I will not be able to die permanently. However that will not prevent my death either as punishment or amusement.

I hear his words explaining this as we move and though he has enslaved my soul, he will never enslave my heart. I saw the look in Logan’s eyes as he spoke, as he fought to free himself. We haven’t known each other as long as others but we’ve been through so much.

I once heard it said that you cannot fall in love if the other person doesn’t love you the same way, they just don’t realise it or want to realise it. I’ve never considered Logan in that way before, until now. Perhaps it is the lifetime of slavery to the Hand, or the fact that he seemed to be all I had left as a future when Gateway took me from the mountain, but I cannot deny that there is a stirring within me.

Chen Yu is still talking at me, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying as I listen to my heart, but now my instincts take over and they are telling me that the situation is too dire, the odds too great and the battle over. However if anyone can save us, it is Logan. His will is great, and he takes whatever life hits him with and comes back. Now that there are two of him here then perhaps there is hope for me yet.

If they fight their way through the undead legion of the Hand before the ceremony.

I’ve seen a lot in my time with the X-Men. Heck, I’ve seen a lot in my time without the X-Men, but fightin’ side by side with an earlier version of myself? Not done that one before. Though apparently I have fought side by side with an older version of myself. I hate time travel.

Don’t remember it, but there’s a lot I don’t remember which by rights I should. We say nothing to each other as we fight our way through, but I watch him. Poetry in motion, a force of nature when he strikes. It’s not just the adamantium but the way he holds himself. He’s a younger version of me, with all the moves, the techniques, the best there is at what he does.

I feel the challenge of it rise within me. The challenge to be as good as he is, because he is me. So I ain’t as on top of the game as he is, but then again I still have the knowledge. Been a while since I used it as well as he does. Then there’s Elektra. She needs me. I need her and no flamin’ amateur is gonna free her so I step up a gear, just to keep up with myself. I’m not that much older than he is, I still have it and as soon as my body remembers it’ll be as natural as breathin’.

The odds are worse than any I’ve ever seen though. Even when I was in the Cairn facing off against the N’Garai, they weren’t this bad, and I was taking on the whole blamed dimension. If they’d kept coming back to life like these jokers though, it’d have been harder.

On a good day a cadre of the Hand wouldn’t be difficult. They wouldn’t be that difficult on a bad day, but this time we’ll be swamped by sheer numbers. They’re burying both of us under the volume. We’re tiring, they’re immortal and they are doing damage. Given time we could let the healing factors do their stuff, but we ain’t got that time. Time’s run out.

I see my double’s eyes, and I know he’s thinking the same. Even two of us aren’t gonna get out of this one. At the other side of the room Gomurr’s tryin’ to free Adam and give us a chance. If he gets there he’ll be too late, but there’s something in the back of my mind an instinct telling me this will be alright. I glance to the side and see a flash of light at the same time as I looked. More than that it was a tear in time/space. Gateway’s brought us help.

“Need a hand?” says the big blue monster that steps from the light. His name is Walter, and he’s Adam’s son. In fact a fair amount of his kids are here, each with powers. He’s joined by the twins Rory and Pandora, Will Chance (the film star, AKA Captain Oz) and the fifth is Newton, dressed in his bio-genetically body which he uses as Warlord of Ethera. Underneath he’s a nerdy little man who makes Bill Gates look like Atlas.

“Won’t say no!” I call as they pile in. The twins lift me and my twin in the air, giving us a chance to recover.

Weapon X didn’t recognise these people who had come to their aid, but his older self did so he deferred to his call. Besides they were fighting their way through so any help was appreciated. Then he felt himself being lifted up.

“What the flamin’?”

“They’re buying us time to recover, bub,” answered Wolverine, who’d retracted his claws as they were placed high above the action.

“Huh,” said Weapon X, doing the same and taking his first good look at his twin. “Nice ears.”

“Yeah well, the smaller ones ain’t high in fashion,” said Wolverine and removed the mask.

“I was just thinkin’ that,” said Weapon X, thinking how much more he liked the longer ear pieces. “I ain’t gonna ask what’s happened because I’ll find out in due course.”

“Fair enough, but I have one question? You knew about these?”

~SCHLUKT!~ 

“Yeah,” says Weapon X, looking at the bone claws sticking from the glove. “I knew. We found out before the first World War, when we took that axe in the arm. Don’t you remember?” Wolverine removed his mask, suddenly finding it a little warm with it on.

“No, but you’ll find that out later.”

“If we make it out alive.” Weapon X looked a little concerned that his older self didn’t remember something that intrinsic to who they were, but hopefully the future would reveal all.

“Yeah, we will,” said Logan. “Too much at stake to lose this one. Just so you know, the newcomers are Adam’s kids. All of them have powers and can handle themselves.”

“Yeah, but against these odds they won’t last for long.”

“In that case, you up to getting back down there?” said Logan.

“Yeah,” said Weapon X and crouched down looking at the Hand. “HEADS UP!” he called and leapt down from the ledge. Wolverine was right behind him and he gave a little shiver when he heard Weapon X unleash the claws.

~SNICKT!~ 

Gomurr was ignoring the battle around him. He was focusing on the spell to free Adam from the grip of the Crimson Dawn. The sooner he did so, the sooner the Hand would start to stay dead. It would be so much easier for them to deal with Chen Yu then.

“No, that’s not working,” said Gomurr, muttering to himself. The spell wasn’t working and he couldn’t figure out why. This was Tar’s spell, not his. If he was Dr Strange, maybe he could figure this out, but he wasn’t and he was getting frustrated.

:::Adam, it’s not working:::

:::Damn. Is it because you’re magics aren’t powerful enough this close to the Dawn?:::

:::You could be right, curse me for a fool:::

:::The pressure is getting to you:::

:::Agreed. I need to buy some time so I can contact Gateway and have him move me away:::

:::What’s the problem?:::

:::Your children have arrived, and their enthusiasm is taking up a lot of the room. Gateway would have no room to spin his bullroarer:::

:::Undercloaks::: came a voice from nowhere

:::What?::: asked Gomurr and Adam in unison. :::Did you say that?:::

:::No::: answered Adam but Gomurr stayed silent. He knew the voice.

:::Tar?:::

:::Yes. Use… the… Undercloaks…::: The voice faded away.

:::Aren’t the Undercloaks the souls of the Hand?::: asked Adam.

:::Of course!::: said Tar. :::The Undercloaks ARE the bodies of the souls of the dead warriors of the Hand. Except with them coming back to life, the Undercloaks cannot exist:::

:::So how can we use them if they don’t exist?:::

:::As Proctor of the Dawn I can command the Undercloaks. That’s why there were no Undercloaks when I arrived, because Chen Yu knew I’d be able to control them. The Hand are now half Undercloak – the weaker minded of them should be able to fight for us:::

:::A civil war? It would buy us and the others time:::

:::Chen Yu’s army is about to halve::: chuckled Gomurr and used the aura of the Dawn that surrounded him. It wasn’t a spell, more of a side affect, so the Dawn wouldn’t negate the ability. The Dawn’s aura resonated around those members of the Hand who fell under Gomurr’s power, giving them a reddish tint and they turned on their comrades.

The two Logan’s looked at each other and then at Gomurr who gave them a big thumbs up and they went after Chen Yu. Newton came over to Gomurr.

“The others will be able to help the… UnderHand,” said Newton, creating a word to call their new allies. “Gateway’s on standby. Where do you want to go?”

“Greenwich Village. I need to talk to Dr Strange!” Gateway arrived from wherever he came from and now there was room to spin his bullroarer to get to see the Sorcerer Supreme.

There are high priests waiting for us as we arrive. Chen Yu releases my hand and I slowly walk up the stone steps to the alter, and lay down on the plinth. The cold of the rock upon which my body rests is nothing compared to the sheer ice that invades my very being.

I’ve been in a ceremony like it, when I was returned to life. Now I am sacrificed to Eternity, as Chen Yu dons the ceremonial garb of the Master of the Hand, then puts on a face mask.

A bejewelled ceremonial sword is passed to him as he ascends the stair way, chanting some incantation. I don’t listen, as I prepare myself. It has happened before, and now I am prepared. The chanting is continued by the priests as Chen Yu stands over me. I can feel his breath on me as he moves his hands over, the magic radiating forth and I close my eyes.

“No,” he commands and my eyes open. “I want to see them widen, then dilate, then become empty.” He raises the blade in the air. “DONACHETH THIST’SUY GIRMANI CHOI!” The blade sweeps down in a blur, cutting through my flesh. I can feel the blood pouring from me and I can not breathe as by slicing open my throat he has severed my windpipe. My head falls to the side as I begin to die. It won’t be long, and I can see Chen Yu looking in to my eyes, imprint my mind with his face – the last thing I see before the darkness…

claims…

me…

They arrived on the scene just to see Elektra die on the table, her blood trickling down the steps.

“NO!” shouted Wolverine as Weapon X looked on. “You’re mine!” said his alternate self pointing at Chen Yu. Weapon X accepted this, knowing that he would get his chance in the future. The high priests were his. The trick here was to wound them, so that they did not die but were not able to help their leader. When they’d been fighting the Hand such a practice was not available.

“You don’t have what it takes to defeat me, little man!” hissed Chen Yu. Wolverine answered with a feral growl and a chill went down Weapon X’s adamantium spine. What did the future hold so that he would – so that he could – answer with a guttural growl?

It was as if he surrendered to the animal, had not tried to take control of the rages that were inside him. These priests were child’s play, so he could watch as his other weaved and bobbed and ducked under the magical blasts of the sorcerer. If Chen Yu connected once, it was all over. This Logan had no adamantium to protect him like before and now Chen Yu was much more powerful.

However Weapon X could see a grace in the animal like movements. He could see that Logan’s moves were not random and chaotic, but in fact predetermined, as if he had adapted to his new state, keeping his old training. The moves were still there, as he had seen earlier, but this was a new style completely.

The man was riding the animal, had become one with it. No more conflict, no more fighting for superiority. He was the best he was at what he did. They both were, and whilst it wasn’t very nice, there was a beauty to it. He watched as Logan leapt and in a swift motion took off Chen Yu’s hand, retracting the middle claw as he did so.

“YEARGH!” cried Chen Yu, as he clutched his stump with his remaining hand.

“Now you die,” said Wolverine, removing his mask and placing the two claws around Chen Yu’s head, resting on top of his ears. Weapon X wondered if Chen Yu appreciated the irony. He wanted to watch Elektra die, and now he would stare his own killer in the face, as the image of Logan would be one of the very last things to go through his mind.

Except there was something wrong. Weapon X looked about and noticed it.

“Logan, watch out!” he called but it was too late and the sword ran his future self through. He watched as Logan’s nostril’s flared and his eyes opened with recognition, then he fell to the floor, the claws falling from Chen Yu. The sorcerer stood as Weapon X started to run, only to be met by a magical blast from Chen Yu, who took his rescuer by the hand. Weapon X was frozen in place, unable to move, unable to do anything other than watch.

“Now we shall marry, and then kill them both,” said Chen Yu.

“Yes, my lord,” answered Elektra and kissed the sorcerer of her own free will. Nobody noticed Wolverine gradually pulling the sword from his back.

“Wong! We have company!” said Stephen Strange. A normal run of the mill visit was not out of the question, it was just very rare.

“I shall get your cloak,” answered Wong, who had been walking by the sanctum sanctorum.

“No, that shall not be necessary,” said Gomurr. “However a cup of tea would be divine.”

“Is this a social call, Gomurr?”

“When the Proctor of the Crimson Dawn arrives via a portal created by Gateway of the Chaste, what do think?”

“Ah,” said Strange. “Didn’t think so, but I had hoped.”

“Another time perhaps. Stephen, I need your help.”

“How so, my friend? The last I saw of you was with the X-Men and the last I heard you had become Proctor of the Dawn. What has happened?”

“Adam Destine has been sacrificed to the Dawn, and the spells Tar and I worked on for the past two decades are not working. At this range I cannot free him but at close range my magics have no effect.”

“I see,” said Strange, stroking his beard as he thought. The door opened as Wong arrived with the tea. “Thank you,” he said, picking up his cup. “This is a curious one. If I may, what spell is it that you are using?” Gomurr recited it as Strange took a sip. “I believe I know what the problem is. It is not the range of the spell, or the proximity to the Dawn. It is a spell of negation of the Dawn, so that Adam may free himself, but by doing so you cancel your own magics.”

“By the Vein!” said Gomurr, drinking his own tea. “How can this be rectified?”

“An interesting question,” said Dr Strange. “It is not easy to find an answer, even for the Sorcerer Supreme. However…” He picked up the cup and drank from it, then focused as the Eye of Agamotto raised from his tunic on to his forehead “…I shall consult the Eye.” Gomurr nodded and remained silent out of respect. The Eye was a powerful tool, and using it meant that Strange was doing him a great favour and courtesy. The Eye opened and a yellow light bathed the room.

Gomurr felt enriched by the light, yet had to turn away from its brillinace and glanced at the man who had brought him here. Wong had poured Gateway a cup, but the silent aborigine had not taken a drink, not yet. Gomurr doubted he would anyway. Then the light faded, and Gomurr turned back to Strange in time to see a book float down from a high shelf and open in front of him.

“I have your answer, however you must hurry. The situation has grown most dire.”

“Thank you,” said Gomurr as he looked at the incantation. “Would you care to accompany me?”

“Thank you but no,” answered Strange. “The Eye not only revealed to me what is happening at the Dawn, but that my powers will be needed in the near future. I must prepare myself. Good luck, Gomurr. The Dawn has a worthy guardian.”

“My thanks again, Stephen,” said Gomurr and Gateway created a portal and they left Strange to mediate on what was to come.

Focusin’ the power’s the Dawn’s givi’ him, Chen Yu’s able to heal his hand, to regrow it. Just means I’ll get to cut it off again.

Finally managed to get that damned sword out and all I can do now is watch and let my healin’ factor chance to do its stuff. Of course by the time that happens, Elektra will have married the Sorcerer and my feelings for her will mean nothing.

The other me got hit bad by Chen Yu’s blast. He’s still with it but can’t move. Don’t know what effect my healing factor has on magic. It didn’t help much in Asgard, but that was more poison than anything. We’ll soon see.

“CERIJ EL M’RESO! JERAS HA’AN ZELTA GRE! SANCTUS DOMINUS GAERETH EST!” The ceremony is completed execpt for one thing. Chen Yu reaches under the plinth and retreives a goblet of Elektra’s blood. She places it to her lips and drinks deeply of her own blood, cursed by the magic of the Hand forever binding her to her killer. If it wasn’t for Adam being in the Dawn she’d have stayed dead.

As the blood slips down her throat there’s a flash of light and a crack. It’s done. However Chen Yu looks a little weary. Perhaps regenerating his hand as well as the powers needed for the ceremony have drained him.

~SNICKT!~ 

Yup. It has, because I’m standin’. Or rather the other me. He doesn’t look too good on his feet but neither does Chen Yu. However against him and Elektra he won’t last long. Guess it’s my turn.

~SCHLUKT!~ 

“I’ll take care of Elektra, you take care of Chen Yu,” I say. A wave of déjà vu sweeps over me, but this time there’s no Hand to hinder us.

“Kill him,” says Chen Yu.

“Yes, my husband,” she answers. My heart gonna be in this one, but I’m gonna have to give it my all. Either she dies or I do. Her swords are drawn, my claws are out and we begin.

“And so we dance again,” Chen Yu says to Weapon X.

“Yeah, but this time we’re playing at my tempo,” replied Logan. “Let’s see watcha got left.”

“More than enough to defeat you, little animal,” sneered Chen Yu and began to wave his arms about, casting a spell. Logan didn’t answer his taunts but advanced quickly before abruptly falling down, his hands clutching his head. “A direct assault on you is futile, however mind games are so much more fun…”

“I hate you,” Weapon X could hear Heather’s voice. “How could I ever love a little animal like you. You’re a madman. Mac was a fool to take you in, I was a fool to let him.”

“But Heather…”

“What would you know of love, anyway? You’re a expensive killing machine, brought out when Department H needs something doing. You couldn’t even defeat the Hulk. You’re worthless.” Tears formed at the sides of Logan’s eyes to hear her speak in such a tone.

“Listen to the frail, bub,” came the voice of Sabretooth. “She’s gotcha pegged right. Couldn’t save Silver Fox, couldn’t even beat the man who killed her.”

“Silver Fox…” whispered Logan as the ghosts of the past began to surround him.

“She was an uppity little squaw, Logan, she said ‘no’!”

“Where were you when I needed you?” echoes the voice of Silver Fox. “Where were you…”

“She said ‘no’…”

“Worthless little animal…”

“Adamantium feed accelerated…”

Images from the past, some real, some imagined started to assault Weapon X and the mutant known as Logan began to crumble under the onslaught.

Gomurr arrived at the side of the Dawn, as the Hand and Underhand did battle. The ClanDestine were taking a rest as the ninjas fought in a stalemate, casually picking off any that came too close or started to go in the direction of the two Logans.

“Keep me covered,” said Gomurr and began the casting.

Inside the Dawn Adam waited. Immortality gave a man patience so waiting was one thing he was good at. As the words were spoken by Gomurr he heard them in his head, and began to feel the Dawn’s hold on him lessen. The Dawn began to weaken as the words were spoken, and as it did so Gomurr’s voice became fainter.

“Children?” he said as the images of the outside world began to come to view and found he was able to create words. The magic was working.

“Daddy!” answered Rory and Pandora together, and clasped hands to activate their powers. Newton watched all the things happening as Walter and Will kept them safe. Newton was calculating the right moment, when Gomurr’s powers were about to vanish, and before Adam began to fall faster than the twins could catch him and bring him out.

Adam thought his mouth was dry, and for the first time in many, many years he was sweating. As the children became clearer, Gomurr’s voice became quieter and then he heard Newton shout “NOW!”, as the Dawn dissipated and the twins pulled their father clear. The Hand were no longer coming back to life and the UnderHand began to get the upper hand.

“Thank you,” said Adam, placing his hands on the shoulders of the twins and smiling at Newton. “Good work.”

“Uh oh,” said Newton. “If my calculations are correct, we’re going to have to run. Now.”

“Why?” asked Walter. “We’ve won.”

“Because the Dawn is an eternal source of magic and we just blocked the dam. Imagine what happens now the spell ends and all the energy rushes out?” The room went quiet as the Dawn began to give an unearthly roar.

“RUN!” said Adam, as Walter picked up the weary form of Gomurr and the ClanDestine began to run in the direction of Logan, Logan, Eletra and Chen Yu. The Dawn was coming right behind them.

“I don’t want to do this, Elektra.” I’m pleading with her as I fight. My blows are as nothing as I can’t bring myself to kill her and I’m not letting her connect.

“I do. It shall be easy for the sensei to kill the student.”

“Fight him, Elektra. Fight it.” This is just like the Phoenix episode it’s frightening, because I didn’t have what it took to finish Jean then, and I know I don’t have it to finish Elektra now. I’ve been kidding myself.

“I can’t,” she says in reply. “I don’t want to. I…” She pauses a second and Chen Yu staggers. Gomurr came through, I can feel it. There’s a chance I can get through to her now. I retract my claws – this is all or nothin’.

“Elektra, I love you.” Heck, if it worked in the Matrix, why not here?

“I…” She pauses, and I wonder if I’ve gotten through to her. “I… NO!” she shouts and throws me across the room. For a moment I think I’ve lost but then I see what she’s done and I smile as I twist in the air.

~SCHLUKT!~

Weapon X looked up as the assault on his mind suddenly halted. Chen Yu staggers and Weapon X stood to his feet.

“You’re… mine…” he snarled at Chen Yu.

“At this range my blasts will sear the flesh from your bones,” jeered the sorcerer. “This game is at an end!”

“You’re… dead…” said Weapon X looking up at him.

“Not by your hand,” said Chen Yu lifting his hands.

“No, by mine,” said Wolverine and Chen Yu turned to have puncture his face, and in a swift motion, Weapon X sliced his head from his shoulders, and at the same time Elektra collapsed as Chen Yu’s hold on her was broken.

“Not fond of teamwork,” he said, sheathing his claws as Wolverine pulled Chen Yu’s head from his claws, “but that was satisfying.”

“Amen to that, bub,” said Wolverine. He walked over to Elektra, and picked her up. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she answered. “I love you too.” Then she fell asleep and Logan smiled, then he could taste the air. Adam and the others were coming. “What the?”

“Logan! The Dawn is expanding!” called Adam as he entered. “Gomurr’s too weak to do anything about it and it’s interfering with Gateway’s portals!”

“I don’t believe it,” said Wolverine. “We’re finished?”

“No,” said Gomurr. “Logan, your adamantium will disrupt the Dawn, just for a moment, but it will restore it to normal.”

“How do we know it won’t kill him?” asked Walter.

“I’m still here, bub,” said Wolverine and looked at Weapon X. “You ready?”

“Born ready, bub,” said Weapon X and they shook hands. “How much of this will I remember?”

“None,” said Wolverine. “I didn’t.”

“Huh,” said Weapon X. “Time to enter a whole world of hurt.”

~SNICKT!~ 

The claws came out and he connected with the Dawn as it approached. There was a major league flash of light, as if the sun had gone nova and when everything cleared they were all outside the house where it had all started, which was now no more than a pile of rubble. Of Weapon X there was no sign.

“What happened to him?” asked Rory.

“The disruption of the Dawn sent him back to his own time,” answered Newton. He was a temporal anomaly and when the natural order was restored he went back. The shock will have wiped his memory of the events of the future and probably give him memory problems with events surrounding this for years, though time will heal eventually heal them.”

Logan nodded. “That would explain why I didn’t remember the Hand until I met them a while ago in Japan. Yet I got the memory back later. Didn’t remember too much of anything after they got me out of the mountain.”

“That proves it,” said Newton.

“Chen Yu is dead, the world is saved and things go on as before,” said Gomurr. “Now I expect I have some tidying up to do.” Gateway created a portal and they left.

“Not exactly as before,” said Logan looking at the sleeping woman in his arms. “We get a lift to Ravenscroft?” he asked. “When she wakes, we’re gonna have a lot to talk about.”

“Of course,” said Adam, placing his hand on Logan’s shoulder. It was time to go home.

NEXT ISSUE: Madripoor beckons. Logan has a new love and his wife isn’t going to be happy. It’s a catfight in the Princess Bar between Elektra and Viper, with Tyger Tiger and Logan watching on. Plus the wheels are set in motion for Wolverine’s part in Genetic Eclipse.