Wolverine--The Next Generation

Logan Goes Rogue

*The Next Afternoon, Logan’s Point of View*

I was in the Danger Room with Marissa, teaching her self defense with hand-on-hand combat. I didn’t exactly volunteer for it, but the professor volunteered me for the job. Truth be told, I was more than obliged to. I needed a way to blow off some steam, considering Jean had banned me from fight simulations in the Danger Room. She even went as far as to set a security code! I set the program to where it had the walls and floor matted down. I had on my regular gear; wife beater, blue jeans, and my boots. But I still had my finger bandaged to cover the incision Jean had given me. Marissa had on tight black gym shorts and a tight pink tank top, and she looked good! But I didn’t let her know that. I went about the routine like I do with the students. “Take you’re metal form. We’ll start by seeing what you can do.” Her body transformed to adamantium slowly, working the way up from her feet. I took a defensive stance and she mirrored my position. She looked as though she had no clue what to do; turns out, she didn’t, “So what? Just come at you?”

““Yes.” She did. She came barreling toward me like a mad rodeo bull! I just smirked, knowing full well I could take her! As soon as she got within two inches of me, I leaped over her head with a yell and kicked out behind me, landing on my hands and knees. I stood up, spun around just in time to see Metallica face-plant the floor behind me as I threw my hands out the side, popping my claws all at once. I know I was supposed to teach her hand-on-hand combat, but the adrenaline running through my veins had my claws urging to be released. I stood still, gritting my teeth and panting, waiting for her to get up. Metallica rose to her feet and took a different defensive position, her face full of determination, but her face quickly went to an expression of surprise. “Logan, you’re hands!” I twisted my hands to where the back of my hands were facing up and brought them up from my sides. Blood was gushing out from the openings around my claws! I gasped and tried to pull in my claws, but instead I screamed in pain as I sank to my knees, the blood slowly dripping down my arms. Marissa ran over to me, changing back to skin as she kneeled down beside me. She attempted to grasp my wrists, trying to restrain me, but I fought back. I was in a panic. I was blind to what was going on around me. I didn’t realize she was trying to help me. Every reach that she took to grab me, I jerked away from. I felt a cold touch against my skin and I found myself unable to break free. I looked down and saw a pair of silver-colored hands around my wrists. I heard Metallica’s voice whisper, “Logan, Logan, listen to me. I need to you do as I say, okay?” I nodded quickly, finally finding some control over my actions. “Logan, I need you to pull your claws back in. Can you do that?” I felt the muscles in my arm tighten as I struggled to pull my claws in. The first try came to no avail. Marissa talked through it, “Okay. Just take a deep breath and stay put.” She stood up and ran to the door. I turned my head so I could see what she was doing. She picked up our towels and her water bottle that were lying beside the door. She ran back over and stooped down beside me, laying the objects down on the floor. “Logan, I want you to try again.” Through my gasps for air, I said, “It—it hurts.” I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. “I know it does,” she told me understandingly, “But I need you to bring your claws in. We have to stop the bleeding, Logan. C’mon. Try again.” I did as she asked; straining my muscles and my personal will beyond my normal limits. Slowly, the metal blades slid back in to the trenches from where they came. I bit down on my tongue to keep from screaming from the agonizing, unbearable pain until I could taste the metallic flavor of blood in my mouth. When the pointed tips my claws finally disappeared, I let out the air that I had been holding in for so long. The openings didn’t close up like they normally did, but remained open and bleeding. There was so much blood; it was all I could do from letting fear take over. Marissa grabbed one of the towels and wrapped it around my hand. She did the same to my other hand. I calmed down some now that I couldn’t see the open wounds.