New Mexico

In the low, dim lighting of this New Mexico bar, quite an interesting standoff has begun. The usual bar patrons retreat to the sides, or try and escape through the doors. In the center of the room stand four men. Surrounding them is a small army of men dressed fron head to toe in black outfits and armed with weapons. They are the Foot Clan, ninja assassins here for one purpose—the destruction of the man called Logan. Their leader is a man dressed in ceremonial armor called the Shredder.

Logan, the man they are after, currently suffers from amnesia and slight deformity following his exposure to a large-scale explosion. He has begun calling himself Jacob. By his side are John Wraith, his former teammate from his days in Team X and current Expeditor for the mysterious organization known as Landau, Luckman, and Lake. Also here is Stick, leader of the Chaste and an old friend of Logan's. The fourth and final member of this little entourage is Victor Creed, sometimes called Sabretooth. He's Logan's worst enemy, a serial killer who has gone through rehabilitation. He also happens to be Logan's son. And he's suffering from brain damage.

An overzealous Foot ninja launches the opening salvo by attempting to stab Jacob with his katana. Jacob avoids the weapon and drives his claws into the ninja's side. Jacob turns to the next ninja who stands in his path and unleashes a similar fury on him.

Sabretooth pounces on one of the ninjas and grabs his head, twisting it a full three-hundred and sixty degrees with a sickening crack. He smiles as he tears out the throat of another ninja who moves forward to attack him. Another comes at him from behind, but Creed turns at the last minute and uses his claws to open the ninja's stomach up.

Stick, although blind, is far from helpless. Three ninjas surround him, attempting to be as silent as possible. He stops and he listens. He waits and feels for the slightest shift in the air. One ninja moves from his position, and Stick feels this movement and thrusts forward with his staff, nailing the ninja in the throat. Stick slams the staff on the ground and swings his body around it, throwing his legs into the chest of the second ninja. He stands rigid and the third approaches him from behind. As he brings his katana down, Stick suddenly lifts his staff up to block. He leaps in the air, flipping over the ninja, and then brings his staff into a direct connection with the ninja's head.

Wraith concentrates on evasion, teleporting across the room and putting nine millimeter bullets into as many ninjas as he can. When danger comes towards him, in a flash of light, he vanishes once more and reappars just in time to deliver a killing blow.

Jacob cuts a swath through the Foot ninjas, approaching his ultimate goal. The Shredder stands towards the back of the ranks, and if not for the helmet and faceplate he wears, Jacob would be able to see the smile that covers the Shredder's face as Jacob approaches him.

"You fight well," says the Shredder. "It is a relief to know that your recent trials have not weakened you."

Jacob grits his teeth. He crouches low, bringing his claws up in front of his face as his dark eyes remain fixed on the Shredder.

"I have not forgotten our previous encounters, Weapon X," says the Shredder.

"Too bad, 'cause I have," replies Jacob.

"I have waited many years for this moment," says the Shredder. "And now it has come."

"Do you plan on fightin' anytime soon, or are ya just gonna keep flappin' yer lips?" asks Jacob.

The Shredder smiles beneath his mask and motions for Jacob to attack him. Jacob leaps forward and brings his claws down. The Shredder lifts his bladed gauntlet and blocks the blow, and with his free hand, he drives his blades into Jacob's abdomen. Jacob pulls back and rushes forward again. The Shredder attempts to stab him again, but this time Jacob blocks the blow and he moves to strike Jacob's head. Jacob ducks and thrusts his claws in the air and with a CLANG they strike the Shredder's own blades.

The Shredder delivers a solid kick into Jacob's chest and forces him back. The Shredder charges forward and brings his blades down in a large arc, tearing the flesh from Jacob's arm. With his free hand, he slashes at Jacob's throat, and blood pours from the wound. Jacob reaches up with his hand to try and stop the blood as his mutant healing factor races to begin repairing the damage. The Shredder walks up to him and tears at his stomach and Jacob uses his other arm to keep his organs from falling out.

"You're getting slow in your old age," says the Shredder. "I expected for you to pose more of a challenge than you have."

Inside the bar, Wraith sits on a stool with a glass of whiskey in his hand. Stick sits by his side.

"Damn... been awhile since I got to bust some heads," says Wraith.

"It was a good workout," says Stick.

"And we get a show out of it, too," says Wraith. His eyes follow a Foot ninja as Sabretooth hurls him over the bar and into a row of bottles. Wraith takes another sip of his drink and smiles. "Yup, definitely a good show."

Sabretooth remains surrounded by three ninjas who are left standing. He smiles and says, "who's first, boys?"

One of them attempts to come at Sabretooth, but Creed grabs his arm, breaks it, and throws him into one of the other ninjas. The third leaps in the air and brings katana down. Sabretooth clamps his massive hands against the blade when it is mere inches from his skull. He pulls the sword away from the ninja and drives it through the man's chest. He pulls it out and approaches the two who lay on the ground, swinging the sword from hand to hand. He brings the sword down on one of their necks, separating his head from the rest of his body. Then he drives the sword into the head of the final ninja and walks up to the bar. He grabs the half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels, unscrews the cap, and drinks it down until the last drop is gone. He slams the bottle on the countertop and looks over at Wraith and Stick.

"Have fun?" asks Wraith.

"Thanks a lot," replies Sabretooth.

"Hey, I thought you might want a chance to cut loose," says Wraith.

"Who said I was bein' sarcastic?" asks Sabretooth with a toothy grin.

"We need to see to Logan," says Stick as he hops off the barstool.

"I'm sure he can take the Shredder," says Wraith.

"Still, we have to be sure," says Stick. "Logan may not be at his peak yet."

A bright light appears in the center of the room and a round portal opens up. Wraith looks at it with shock and then turns to Stick.

"Are you seein' what I'm seein'?"

"No," replies Stick.

"Oh right..." says Wraith. "It looks like one of Gateway's portals."

"So he's here?" asks Stick.

A figure steps forth from the portal, dressed in a red outfit. She is a young woman with a shapely form and long, dark hair which frames her face. Her skin is tan, her features Mediterranean. In each hand, she holds a sai.

"Elektra..." mutters Wraith. He stands from the stool and moves forward, but Stick blocks him with his staff.

"Wait."

"What's wrong?" asks Wraith. "That's Elektra."

"No it's not," replies Stick. "It may be her body, but her mind is clouded. She cannot see clearly."

"Then let's give her some re-education," says Sabretooth. He walks towards Elektra and before he can get within arm's reach, she hurls her sai at him and it becomes lodged in his throat. Sabretooth gags as he scrambles to pull it out, but before he can, Elektra moves forward and kicks the hilt of the sai, forcing it in deeper. She spins and delivers a roundhouse kick to Sabretooth's head and then shoves her other sai into the center of his chest.

"...holy shit," says Wraith. He looks at Stick. "Did you... nevermind."

He scrambles and grabs one of his handguns and aims it at Elektra. She turns her head ever so slightly so she can lock eyes with him.

"This one will live," she says, placing her foot on Sabretooth's body. "I have no quarrel with any of you. Stay out of my way and no harm will come to you."

"That's not gonna happen, babe," says Wraith.

"Put the gun down," says Stick.

"Are you fucking crazy?!" asks Wraith.

"She'll kill you before you pull the trigger," replies Stick. "Put. The gun. Down."

Wraith slowly lowers his gun and Elektra bends down and examines her sais.

"The skin is already beginning to close up around the blades," she says. She grips the one in his throat and pulls it out first. Then she pulls out the one in his chest. She stands and looks at the two of them, before stepping through the bar's exit.

"Now just where the hell did she come from?" asks Wraith.

"You're the Expeditor," replies Stick. "You tell me."

"You don't seem too shaken up by this."

"No, I don't," says Stick. "This is all necessary."

"I have looked forward to this fight for many years," says the Shredder as he stands over Jacob. "What a pity you could not live up to my expectations."

He raises his hand to strike, but before he can, he arches forward and cries out in pain as he falls to his knees. Jacob sees a sai sticking out of the Shredder's back.

"This is no longer your fight," says Elektra as she steps out from the bar.

"You..." says the Shredder. "You're supposed to be dead."

Elektra pulls the sai from the Shredder's back and looks at him.

"Run for your life," she says. "While you still have one."

"The Shredder runs from nothing," he says.

Jacob feels his throat and his stomach beginning to heal, but he keeps his hands where they are anyway. While the Shredder has his attention focused on Elektra, Jacob moves forward and delivers a punch to the Shredder's chest.

*SNIKT*

Three razor-sharp adamantium claws pierce the Shredder's armored body and when Jacob pulls them out, the claws are stained red with blood. The Shredder pulls away, attempting to stop the bleeding with his hands. Jacob moves forward to deliver the final blow, but Elektra steps in front of him. Jacob stops and then locks eyes with her.

"...you," he says. "Yer the one from my dreams."

She pulls back and gets into a fighting stance, her sais at the ready.

"What's going on here?" asks Jacob. "You know what this is all about. You've gotta."

"Shut up and fight," she replies. She charges forward and brings her sai towards Jacob in a stabbing motion, but he blocks it with his claws. She spins around him and prepares to stab him in the back, but he drops to the ground and forces his feet up, kicking her in the chin. Elektra rolls with the momentum of the blow and backflips. When she recomposes herself, she brings her sais up. Jacob leaps at her and she hurls her foot into the air, eliminating the distance between his head and her foot.

Jacob stands from the ground and charges forward once more. He thrusts forward with his claws and Elektra blocks with her sai. She drives her other sai into his chest, but it is blocked by his adamantium-laced ribcage. She looks at him in surprise and Jacob elbows her in the face. Elektra reels back and then Jacob rushes forward with a cry of rage as he forces his claws into her chest. Elektra does not cry out, however, the words die in her throat. She looks up at Jacob and locks eyes with him and suddenly, memories flash across his mind's eye.

"Elektra..." he mutters. "No..."

He drops to his knees as the realization comes over him. His memories come flooding back to him, he remembers his entire life. He remembers his encounter with Creed's mother. He remembers his time in Japan learning under Ogun. He remembers fighting against the Destroyer during his time with Landau, Luckman, Lake, and Lequare. He remembers his time in the Canadian government and the CIA. He remembers his encounter with the Weapon X Program. He remembers Department H, the Hudsons. He remembers the offer from Charles Xavier. He remembers joining the X-Men. He remembers Jean. He remembers Storm. He remembers Kitty. He remembers Mariko. He remembers Jubilee. He remembers Elektra. He remembers the Shadow King. He remembers his son. He remembers his time in Terra where he and Elektra were married. He remembers his name.

"Logan..."

"Wraith," says Logan as he stands up. "Been a long time."

"What happened to Elektra?" asks Wraith. Logan looks down at her and turns away, feeling tears beginning to form behind his eyes. He forces them back. Wraith runs up to Elektra and examines her body. He examines her and discovers the small disc-shaped object at the base of her neck. He pulls it off and examines it.

"Looks like she wasn't in her right mind," says Wraith. "It's a mind control device."

"Who did this to her?" asks Logan.

"Not sure," replies Wraith. "What happened to you, Logan?"

"Elektra and I were transported to Terra by Gateway," replies Logan. "We helped the queen against the King of Shadows and we were married. We planned to live there for the immediate future. We thought the King of Shadows was dead but... he wasn't. He came back for us, killed the queen. He would've killed us if not for Gateway. Next thing I know, I'm back in Almagordo just as it blows up. Then when I woke up, I couldn't remember anything about who I was. I had flashes of Elektra, and I could remember Jacob's name. But that was it."

"We came as soon as we could," says Wraith.

"With Creed," says Logan.

"Don't start, it wasn't my choice," says Wraith.

"What've I missed?" asks Logan. "How long have I been gone?"

"A lot's been going on," replies Wraith. "Last I heard, there was something about mutant riots in DC."

"Mutants?" asks Logan.

"Yeah," replies Wraith.

"Get me there now," says Logan. "I got a job t' do."

Undisclosed Location

"Elektra's dead and the Shredder's returned to Japan," says General Meyer.

"Despite Logan's injuries and his amnesia, he's still far more adept than I expected," says Montclair.

"Do we send someone else?" asks Meyer.

"No," replies Montclair. "He's expecting something. We still have Gateway, so let's just observe him for awhile. When the time is right, General, then the Byron Agency will strike."

NEXT: For more on Logan's experience in DC, check out the "Fourth Genesis" story-arc in X-MEN PRIME #13-17. Then continue reading X-MEN PRIME for more Wolverine action.

CUTTING EDGE

I figure there should be a bit of a clarification here, since there seems to have been some confusion. This series wasn't intended to "undo" anything David Wheatley did in his WOLVERINE run. I have nothing but the utmost respect for David as a writer and as a person, and his run on WOLVERINE was one of the best runs of a title I've ever read in fanfic.

Brad Horton and Cory Wiegel first approached me about writing this title because they planned to bring Wolverine back to the land of the living in the pages of X-MEN PRIME. They hadn't really had a concrete plan for how to explain what had happened to Wolverine, so I offered to write a limited series that fills the gap between WOLVERINE #41 and X-MEN PRIME #13.

Let me repeat that: this is a limited series. It is not an ongoing series (despite how much Mike Shirley wishes it were). My time with Wolverine in a solo format, at least for the immediate future, is over. This book was basically written as a favor to Brad and Cory.

Hopefully you all enjoyed this story.

-Dino Pollard
November 1, 2004