Chapter 12: Wolverine and X-23
Over the following months, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Logan with his Crescent Pack embarked on numerous missions together, their bond growing stronger with each shared experience.
One of their most daring missions was a covert operation to break out a group of Allied prisoners from a heavily fortified Hydra base just like before. The base was a maze of tunnels and heavily guarded checkpoints, making it almost impossible to navigate without being detected.
Logan, with his heightened senses, took the lead, guiding Steve and Bucky through the labyrinthine corridors.
They moved silently, taking down guards before they could raise the alarm. At one point, they reached a large hall filled with Hydra soldiers. Logan whispered, "I got this," and charged in taking his claws out, causing chaos and drawing all the attention to himself.
While Logan fought off the majority of the guards, Steve and Bucky quickly moved to free the prisoners.
After finishing his battle, Logan went to find them and noticed Bucky hesitating as they approached a group of soldiers who were clearly just kids forced into service.
Logan called out to him, "Bucky, they're armed. If you hesitate, they'll shoot." It was a harsh lesson, but Bucky nodded, understanding the situation.
The trio soon kills the remaining soldiers and rescue the prisoners.
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The trio's next mission took them to a Hydra weapons factory nestled in the mountains. This time, Steve led the charge, using his shield to deflect bullets and clear a path. Logan followed closely behind, his claws making quick work of the Hydra guards. Bucky, with his sharp shooting skills, picked off targets from a distance, providing crucial support.
As they moved through the factory, the trio worked in perfect sync. Logan and Steve would breach a room, and Bucky would cover their rear, ensuring no enemy could flank them. At one point, a Hydra agent managed to throw a grenade into the room they were in. Without missing a beat, Logan kicked it back out the door before it could explode, saving them all from certain death.
After the raid, as they were debriefing, Steve turned to Logan. "You saved our lives in there. Thanks, Logan."
Logan shrugged it off. "Just doing my job, Rogers. But I guess you guys aren't half bad either."
Through these missions and many others, the trio grew closer.
Steve admired Logan's relentless determination and willingness to take on any challenge head-on. Bucky appreciated Logan's straightforwardness and the way he always had their backs, no matter the odds. And Logan, though he often kept his feelings to himself, found himself respecting Steve's leadership and Bucky's loyalty.
Around campfires, between missions, they shared stories, laughs, and a fair share of disagreements, but always emerged stronger. They had each other's backs, and that was what mattered most. In the chaos of war, they'd become more than comrades—they'd become brothers.
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A few weeks had passed, and the Howling Commandos, alongside the Crescent Pack, had made a significant impact on the war. The pack leaders are now called to a meeting with Peggy Carter and Colonel Phillips.
Peggy began the meeting with a smile by mentioning, "The pack has gained another name—Crimson Moon. After that full moon night when the pack massacred an entire base, leaving the ground soaked in blood, people started calling you that."
Logan nodded with slight smile on his face. "Not a bad name," he mused.
Laura, sitting beside him, grinned. "I think it's a wonderful name. Maybe we should officially change it," she said, giving Logan a playful glance.
Logan smirked at her suggestion. "Maybe in the future. So, what's this meeting about?"
Phillips cleared his throat and looked over at Peggy, signaling for her to take the lead.
Peggy continued, "Since you've been working on several missions with the Howling Commandos, we thought it was time for you to have code names as well. Much like how Steve is known as Captain America."
Logan smirked again, leaning back in his chair. "I've already got a name in mind. Call me Wolverine."
Laura chuckled. "Damn, that's a good one, Jimmy."
Logan raised an eyebrow at her use of the nickname. Laura only called him "Jimmy" under three circumstances: when she thought he's very hot or when she is flirting with him and lastly when they were in bed as he fucks her brain out.
Laura, lost in thought for a moment, then spoke up. "I'll go with X-23."
Logan looked surprised. "X-23? Really?" Laura just smiled at his reaction.
Peggy smiled and made a note of the names. "Well, those are certainly unique choices."
Colonel Phillips then took over. "We've got a critical mission for the two of you. It's an assassination. We've pinpointed the location of one of the enemy leaders, Sebastian Shaw. He's dangerous and has been causing us a lot of trouble."
Logan is very much surprised to hear the name of the future black king.
Logan and Laura studied the photograph and details in the file handed to them. Laura frowned slightly. "Shaw, huh? What's so special about him?"
"He's... different," Phillips replied cautiously. "Rumor has it he's involved in some strange activities. We need him taken out, and quickly. Captain America and his team are on another mission, so it's down to you two. Are you in?"
Logan nodded without hesitation. "We're in."
They went over the mission details and planned their approach.
After the meeting, as they walked out of the room, Logan glanced at Laura. "Why'd you pick the name X-23?"
Laura smirked. "We were married on full moon night of 10th month of the year and X is the Roman numeral of ten. And being the 23rd daughter of Romulus, it just felt right to combine the two for a cool name."
Logan chuckled and pulled her in for a kiss. "You always surprise me." As she giggled.
As they headed out to prepare for the mission, Logan couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement, he is going against Shaw who had the ability to absorb kinetic energy, he is very much excited.
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**A Dark Room in a Secret Facility**
The room is dimly lit by a single overhead light, casting eerie shadows on the cold, metallic walls.
Young Erik is seated, shackled to a chair, his face covered in tears and sweat. His eyes are filled with fear and anger, darting around the room, searching for his mother. In front of him stands Sebastian Shaw, his demeanor calm but menacing, his eyes filled with a sinister satisfaction.
After seeing Erik's powers, Sebastian Shaw becomes interested in his abilities. Shaw decides to conduct a cruel experiment to force Erik to use his powers on command. He brings Erik into his office and asks him to move a metal coin on the desk using his powers.
Erik, unable to move the coin, becomes increasingly desperate. Shaw then calls for Erik's mother to be brought into the room. He calmly explains to Erik that if he doesn't move the coin, he will torture his mother in front of him.
Despite Erik's best efforts, he cannot move the coin under the immense pressure. That leads to the present situation.
Sebastian Shaw: (calmly, with a cold smile) Erik, do you know why you're here?
Erik: (struggling to break free, panic in his voice) Where is she? What have you done with my mother?
Shaw's smile widens as he steps aside, revealing Erik's mother, chained to a wall behind him, her face bruised and her eyes pleading.
(Erik's Mother) Edie: (weakly) Erik... please, stay strong...
Sebastian Shaw: (ignoring her plea, his voice steady and controlled) You have a gift, Erik, something extraordinary. But gifts need to be nurtured, cultivated... and sometimes, they need a little push.
Shaw steps closer to Erik's mother, pulling out a sleek handgun. Erik's eyes widen with horror, his breaths quickening.
Erik: (screaming)No! Please! Don't hurt her!
Sebastian Shaw: (almost sympathetically) This is for your own good, Erik. Pain is a powerful teacher.
Without another word, Shaw raises the gun and fires at her legs. The sound is deafening in the small room. Erik's mother slumps forward, she cried in pain but hold back screaming infront of her son. Erik lets out a heart-wrenching scream, his emotions exploding in a wave of anguish and fury.
In that moment, the room begins to tremble. Metal objects start vibrating, drawn toward Erik as if by an invisible force. Shaw remains calm, observing with a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Sebastian Shaw: (softly, almost to himself) Yes... that's it, Erik. Feel your power.
Erik's eyes blaze with a newfound intensity. His hands, still shackled, tremble as the metal around him bends and warps under his will. But it's not enough to break free.
Sebastian Shaw: (in a low, commanding voice) You want revenge, don't you, Erik? You want to destroy me for what I've done. Use that anger. Let it guide you.
Erik struggles, pulling against his restraints, the metal beginning to groan under the pressure of his rage. But Shaw steps back, knowing Erik is not yet ready to break free. This is only the beginning.
Sebastian Shaw: (smirking)This is only the beginning, Erik. The more you suffer, the stronger you'll become. Remember this pain. Let it fuel you.
Soon, he noticed a commotion outside and He turns to leave, the door hissing open and then slamming shut behind him, leaving Erik alone with his mother, the echoes of his screams reverberating through the cold, metal walls.
Erik's heart pounds in his chest as he stares at his mother, Edie Lehnsherr, slumped against the wall, her breath shallow but steady.
Edie Lehnsherr : (with a strained, soft voice) Erik... it's... alright... you're strong, my son. Remember that... always...
Erik's eyes are wet with tears, a mix of fear and rage boiling within him. His small hands tremble in the restraints, his knuckles turning white as he grips the arms of the chair. The pain in his chest is almost unbearable, a weight pressing down on him, suffocating him with guilt and helplessness.
Erik : (voice breaking) Mama... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...
She gives him a weak, comforting smile, despite her pain, trying to project strength and calmness to him.
Edie Lehnsherr : (whispering) It's... not your fault, Erik. None of this is... I love you...
As she speaks, the metal in the room around Erik begins to vibrate more violently, his anger and grief manifesting in waves of magnetic energy. The chains holding him rattle, the lights flicker more intensely, and small objects start to lift off the ground.
Erik : (screaming, his voice filled with a mixture of rage and despair) No! I'll kill him! I'll kill him for this!
His words echo through the room, the sound reverberating off the metal walls. Erik's hands begin to pull at the metal restraints with newfound strength, but they do not break. Instead, his fury seems to bend the chains slightly, a testament to the untapped power within him.
Outside the room, the commotion grows louder. The door creaks open again, revealing two guards rushing inside.
First Guard : (urgently, as he sees Edie slumped and bleeding) Get the medic! Quickly!
The second guard turns to run, but he stops when he sees the expression on Erik's face and the strange, unseen force lifting objects in the room.
Second Guard : (fearful) What... what is he doing?
First Guard : (panicking) It doesn't matter! We need to secure the area! Call Shaw!
But before either can move, the metal restraints on Erik's chair snap loose under the sheer force of his magnetic field. The guards step back, raising their weapons instinctively.
Erik : (standing, his voice cold and filled with fury) You're all going to pay for this...
The room seems to come alive as Erik's powers surge. The lights overhead shatter, plunging the room into near darkness, with only the faint glow of emergency lights casting a dim, red hue.
First Guard : (shouting over the noise) Shoot him! Now!
But before they can pull the trigger, the guns are ripped from their hands, yanked by the invisible magnetic force emanating from Erik. The weapons hover in the air for a moment before crumpling like paper.
Suddenly, a calm, authoritative voice echoes from the doorway.
Sebastian Shaw : (reappearing, watching the chaos with an almost amused expression) Enough, Erik.
His presence seems to draw Erik's attention, the magnetic field around the room flickering as Erik turns to face him, his breath heavy with exhaustion.
Sebastian Shaw : (smirking) You see, Erik, this is what I was talking about. Your pain... your anger... it makes you stronger. You're beginning to understand, aren't you?
Erik, his face twisted with a mixture of fear and hatred, clenches his fists, the metal in the room vibrating once more. But before he can act, Shaw raises a hand.
Sebastian Shaw : (calmly) That's enough for today. Guards, take him to his quarters. We'll continue this... training... soon enough.
The guards, still shaken, move cautiously toward Erik, who is too drained to resist as they restrain him once again.
Erik, still seething with anger, is led away, his mind burning with thoughts of vengeance, each step fueling the dark path Shaw is leading him down.
The voices and gun fires of outside are making more and more noise for Shaw to ignore anymore.
Boommm.....
Just as Shaw was about to go outside, the figure landed from the top making a hole on the top surface.
The male figure dressed in yellow and blue with two pointed horn like things on both sides of his hand looked at Shaw who is shocked.
The figure looks around the room and understanding the situation turned to Shaw "I'm going to fucking kill you, Shaw."
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Mutants are officially in the fic. I initially didn't want to use mutants but after thinking about how only adding few charecters doesn't make sense and thinking about the powers logan could gain from them using their DNA decided to add them.