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Ultimate Coverup	By : Polymer Category: X-men Comics > Het - Male/Female Views: 1569 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men comics, or any of the characters from it. I make no money from from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
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Chapter 7

"I could have killed them," whispered Michelle as she looked up at Hank.

"You weren't in your right mind, Shelly," said Hank gently. "Don't go blaming yourself�"

"Well I think I should," she said.

"Look who's awake," said Jean as she walked in and smiled. She carried a large bouquet of flowers, and set it down on the bedside table.

"Jean� I'm so sorry�"

"Forget it, it's okay�" she said as she hugged Michelle. "You feeling any better?"

"I still have a headache the size of a mountain," she moaned. "Did I hurt anyone�"

"Well Wolverine's got a few scratches, but at least he's got his skin intact�" joked Jean.

"That's not funny," Michelle said as she choked.

"Look, he's okay. You're okay� Rogue is okay�"

"I didn't act myself�" Michelle hugged her body as she shivered.

"Michelle, please� look� we know that you went through some nasty stuff at Weapon X� we were there too remember�"

"Not as long as I� or Logan were�"

"No, but it isn't like we don't have some CLUE," Jean sighed. "Won't you stop shutting us out? We're your friends and we're worried about you�"

"Rogue almost killed me� perhaps she is right� I am dangerous�"

"Please� Wolverine was far worse off than you were. And he's one of the team. Heck he scares half the people, but he's come through. You'll do the same�" Jean said as she grasped Michelle's hand. "I want to help you, dummy� is that so hard to ask?"

"You might not like what you see in my head� I don't like what I see�"

"I promise I won't go anywhere you don�t want me to," Jean said softly.

"Thank you�" she said. "I'll let you know� but somehow I don't think a guided tour will help�"

"Well I mean being a friend, there to talk like," Jean corrected her. "I'm your team leader, and your friend. And I wasn't there when you and Rogue needed me. I feel guilty�"

"Yes, but it wasn't your fault�"

"IT was. A leader should know when to step in and mediate things before they get outta hand. I didn't do that� and Rogue almost killed you, and Logan almost skewered her�"

"Logan� did I hurt him� you said that he was injured but�"

"Healing factor fixed him up good. Looks like you're not so bad off yourself� you had a crushed wrist, and multiple cuts, and your neck was almost broken when Rogue pinned you to that wall. And yet Hank's telling me you're only gonna have to stay in here for a week if that�"

"Jean� something happened to me� I� I'm not what you think�" she said.

"Easy, it's okay. You don't have to tell me," said Jean as she stopped her. "Not all at once. Logan didn�t' tell me everything, and maybe it's better if we don't know till you're ready to face it�"

"Thank you," said Mariko softly. "You are one of the best friends I have had�"

"I try," Jean smiled as she hugged her across the bed.

"Where's Logan now?" asked Mariko.

"He's sleeping. He didn't leave your side for a moment," said Jean slowly. "He was there, talking to you, holding your hand and stuff. That's not like him�"

"No it isn't," Hank said. "I had to chase him away a number of times�"

"Really," Michelle trailed off. She remembered his kiss on her lips, and shivered.

"I think he likes you," said Jean slowly. "Really�"

"Maybe so," Mariko said, wary about admitting anything to Jean. There was bad blood between her and Logan, and she didn't want to make waves.

"Just be careful, Michelle. He's a heart breaker, and I don't want you to get stomped on� I might as well tell you what happened between him and me� why I'm the queen bitch of the north when he's around sometimes�"

"You don't have to�"

"Yes I do," said Jean. "You need to hear my side, and decide for yourself if you're going to go anywhere with Logan."

"How is she?" Logan asked as he glanced over at what Hank was peering through.

"She's going to pull through all right. Which is a huge surprise�"

"Healing factor, huh?" Logan asked quietly. "You looking at her blood? She ain't a lab rat�"

"Logan, she's my friend. So would you stop acting like such an ass?" Hank snorted.

"Okay you win, dogbreath," said Logan. "But what are you looking at that's got your underwear in a wad?"

"Her blood sample is unusual. Blood type is extremely rare by itself. But when we did her genescan we originally saw the potential for spontaneous polymer generation from carbon dioxide and water in the normal atmosphere. Yet we never counted on secondary mutant powers such as these�"

"Simple answer, dogbreath. She was probably experimented on like I was�' said Wolverine annoyed. "I coulda told ya that�"

"Do you know what they did to her?"

"Have a pretty good idea, but remember I knew her before she had THIS done to her�"

"What THIS do you mean?"

"The fast healing� the berserker rage," Wolverine snorted. "Why are you looking at ME like that?"

"Her blood sample contains elements remarkably similar to yours� perhaps�"

"I wasn't there when they did anything to her�" Logan said quickly. "How the hell should I know what was done�"

"Maybe it's not you� but another with the same factor," Hank shook his head.

"What are you talking about? What the hell does this mean?" Logan demanded as he followed Hank around the lab. The scientist was pacing around, grabbing his notebooks and typing intermittently on the keyboard of his computer.

"This is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database of the mutants that were enrolled in the Weapon X program. Complete with genetic scans. I accessed Michelle's and I found something disturbing� she's not who she seems?"

"Say what?" Wolverine asked.

"There were more than just two people with the last name Yashida�" said Hank.

"Did you say Yashida?" asked Logan, blinking. The name fishooked something in his brain, and he was struggling to reel it in but not succeeding. It plunged back into the lake of his muddled memories.

"You familiar with the family?"

"Only that one family by that name has a lot of power. They're nobility. The Yashida clan I'm thinking of once had ties to the Yakuza�"

"Stars and garters," Hank muttered.

"But they were cleaning house when I last heard� or could remember," said Logan slowly. "One of my missions was to Japan� and I remember stomping Yakuza alongside Creed. One of our last missions that we didn�t' end up killing each other on�"

"What was the nature of the mission?"

"Take down the drug ring, in Madripoor," said Wolverine. "And we did. Except there was a problem. One of the ringleaders was a member of Clan Yashida�"

"Oh my�"

"He was pretty close to the leader. He was buddy-buddy with a guy named Shinobi Shaw� son of Sebastian Shaw� his old man's leader of the Hellfire club or something� anyway, it's a small world. Yashida clan fell into disgrace, but SHIELD worked out a deal that they'd help them clean house in exchange for some political secrets and intel."

"So it was an unholy alliance."

"Not really. Back scratching. The leader cut a deal. He sent some members of his own family, kids to train in the Weapon X program. There were about five of them. We ended up training them� at least Creed did. And that's as much as I can remember�"

"Was Michelle one of the names?"

"I don't remember," Logan muttered. "There was a Shiro, a Yukio� then there was a girl named Yuriko Oyama� but she wasn't Yashida� and then there was Viper. Nasty bitch. And three others�"

"Are you sure you don�t' remember?"

"I remember Michelle coming and bringing me food," said Logan. "But I didn't know her name. Only her scent. I was pretty much out of it. But I do know that Creed took a liking to her� and just what happened I hate to think of�"

"He didn't�"

"Don't smell any trace of him on her, or anything she owns, but there's a hint of something wild�" said Logan slowly.

"Most likely you smell the healing factor that is in her blood and body, similar to your own. But you're not going to like this next part."

"I hate it already, dogbreath," he muttered.

"It says here, that they were performing research into fusing this healing factor from mutants like you and Sabretooth into other test subjects. And some of them were Clan Yashida. They were trying to make better fighters�"

"So they did that when they gave me these damn bones and claws," Wolverine snorted.

"Michelle's name is listed as one of the subjects for the first time. She's only mentioned among the scientists who were staffing the polymer team. But it said in this confidential file that she was demarcated for the testing� project boomerang�"

"God� so that means�"

"They took the cells and blood samples from Victor Creed," said Hank slowly.

"Son of a BITCH," Logan snarled, his claws unsheathing. Angrily he swiped at the monitor, and Hank grabbed it and somersaulted over the table as Logan's claws hit empty air.

"What the hell was that about?" Hank yelled. "You almost destroyed my computer you ass!"

"He� he� put his FILTH into her� that fuckin bastard!" Logan growled, his eyes blue slits as he heaved, and his hackles rose.

"Logan� I hate it too�"

"God fucking DAMN him!" Logan roared. "I will kill him, rip his THROAT out when I next see him!"

"Logan, stop it!" said Hank angrily. "If you care anything for her, don't you see that she can't know about this�"

"Shit," Logan gasped, hanging on the edge of the counter and heaving up and down.

"Does this mean you�"

"It doesn�t change how I feel, if that's what you mean, dog breath," Logan muttered quietly as he inhaled deeply. "Just another fuckin nail in Sabretooths' coffin when I find him�"

"You care for her�"

"Figure it out yerself, genius� damn I wish you'd mind your own fuckin' business�" Logan snarled as he left. As he stormed out of the infirmary, tears rolled down a set of cheeks. Mariko felt a lump in her throat as she saw Hank flop down in the chair and wring his hands in grief.

Mariko felt her tears pouring as she sobbed. Sitting in her bed she lay on her side, and hugged her knees. Her entire world was even more complicated than before. Now Logan knew part of her nasty little secret how could she ever face him again?

"Are you in there?" came a knock at the door.

"Go away please," Michelle said softly. "I don�t' want to talk to anyone."

"Tough, cause I'm gonna stand out here till you do," said Jean. The knob jiggled from TK waves and Mariko snorted. Raising her hand, she erected a barrier of plastic to block the entrance.

"I said leave me be," said Mariko sharply. "Just don't concern yourself�"

"Look, I know you're upset�"

"I don't want to talk� it's too painful," muttered Mariko.

"I can stand out here a long time. We can do this the hard way or the easy way�" Jean called. There came a whine, and the door suddenly swirled with energy. It exploded and Michelle managed to erect a shield to keep out the debris.

"Remy sorry, but you gotta let us help," Gambit said as he stood by the door.

"Gambit you dumb shit! I didn't want you to blow open the door!" Jean fumed.

"Why you upset, it did the trick," Gambit said.

"Just leave me be," she sniffled as Jean walked in, with Storm and Gambit, and Scott.

"Michelle, we're worried sick�" Scott said carefully. "You're an X-Man� we need to support each other�"

"Is this about Logan� or Rogue?" asked Jean.

"No, it's about me� I'm not what you think," Mariko sobbed.

"Don't you think that we know you're going through hell?" asked Jean as she hugged Mariko. Gambit stroked her shoulder.

"We're your teammates and friends, don't do this�" said Scott.

"I�" Mariko trailed off as Storm sat on her other side, and she felt them standing there. "I am not worthy�"

"Bullshit," said Scott with a sigh.

"You're an X Man. As long as you're here, we stand together," Jean said as she held Mariko to her. In the Danger room the latest session had wrapped up. "Time to call it a day, people," Scott called.

"Weekend!!!" Bobby and Gambit chorused.

"All right, party!!!" Hank whooped.

"Ready to have some fun?" Lorna winked at Jean. They high-fived and slowly moved up behind Alex and Scott standing there toweling off.

"Want to have a beer at Harry's?" asked Nightcrawler as he teleported next to Colossus.

"No thank you. I believe I have some other plans," Pyotr said as he looked at Kitty.

"Hey elf," said Logan. "You want to go out for a brew?"

"Sure," said Kurt. "Are we meeting anyone, or bringing anyone?"

"For you, maybe, but me�" Kurt followed his gaze to the Japanese woman who stood near Jubilee and Kitty, toweling off.

"Ahhhh you are hoping to get closer and personal with the fraulein?" asked Kurt.

"Yep," Wolverine nodded.

"Perhaps I should call that girl Amanda that I met at�"

"Wouldn't kill ya, elf," Wolverine said as he slugged him on the back.

"Are you going to the party, Kitty?" Peter asked her, as he walked over.

"Well depends on how late I can stay up past my BEDTIME," she said pointedly.

As Logan was talking to Nightcrawler, Mariko quickly exited the Danger room, excusing herself from Jubilee. Storm followed her, taking her shoulder. "Michelle, are you all right� you've been rather quiet the last few days�"

"I'm getting better," she said slowly.

"Are you coming to the party?"

"Maybe," she said softly. "I don't know� I might just curl up with a good movie and a pint of ice cream�"

"Want some company? Hank and I would love you to come hang out with us," Storm said gently. "You shouldn't be alone�"

"I guess that won't be too bad," said Mariko. "Maybe we should all just go out somewhere instead of staying here�"

"There you are�" Logan said as he stood behind her and she flinched. "Storm, Michelle, would you two lovely ladies consent to joining us for a brew? Elf's buying�"

"Storm?" asked Kurt.

"Well that might be just what we need�" said Storm thoughtfully. "Michelle� I can help you pick out an outfit�"

"Sure, why don't we go now�" said Michelle.

"What, and miss out on hanging with us, all hot and sweaty after a workout?" Logan whispered in her ear. She felt Logan's hands slid around her waist, and slowly walked out of his embrace. He frowned slightly, and stepped back, with a frustrated growl in his throat. Kurt noticed, and raised an eyebrow, his yellow eyes widening in a question.

"Hank?" Storm asked as the Beast wandered over. "We're going out� want to come?"

"Sure," said Hank. "I'll just get cleaned up� and Kurt I've got a new toy� an image inducer that�"

"What's the matter, pal, afraid of the face you were born with?" asked Wolverine. "Or in your case� stuck with?"

"Easy for you, you're not so obvious as me," said Hank.

"He is when he's pissed," said Storm with a grin.

"Hey, I resemble that remark, Roro," Logan teased. He tried again to casually lean his arm on Michelle's shoulder. Swallowing hard, she let him this time. He shouldn't see anything was amiss. Now if she could only hold it together long enough to get out of his way at the bar.

"He's housebroken," Mariko joked as she cracked a smile.

"She skewered you," Kurt chuckled.

"Okay people, don't just stand around! The professor's gone, so you know what THAT means," Scott barked.

"While the cat's away, the mice will play," Hank quoted.

"That's right, dogbreath," Logan teased. "And you know what that means ladies�"

"Happy hour at Harry's?" Storm said.

"Will they card us?" asked Jean dubiously.

"Maybe you could use your powers of persuasion," said Logan with a sneer.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," said Jean as she looped her arm through Scott's. Hank rested his hand on Storm's back, and Logan continued to lean his gloved hand on Mariko's shoulder. She smiled bravely, but felt ill to her stomach.

"C'mon ladies, are we going to get ready or NOT?" asked Lorna with a laugh.

"Ready," she said. "But what about the X babies?"

"Yeah what about us?" Jubilee asked, folding her arms across her chest. "We supposed to hang here while you big kids go get stinking drunk off your ass�"

"Jubilee," sighed Michelle. "If you'd like, I could stay behind and keep you company�"

"What, and miss the fun?" asked Logan. "You crazy? You need the night out� someone else will baby-sit�"

"But�"

"C'mon let's go get you something to WEAR," said Jean as she grabbed Mariko's wrist. "C'mon Lorna, Storm� let's turn our closets inside out�"

"Hey�" Logan barked. "I'm not finished here�"

"We'll bring her back in one piece gentlemen�" said Jean as she looked meaningfully at the guys clustered around.

"But I don't�" Mariko protested.

"You're not getting out of this, missy," said Lorna. "I've got an outfit that's so you�"

"Very well," she sighed, and saw Logan's puzzled look. He seemed put out, and she felt a wave of anger and nausea at herself. There was no hiding anything from him, damn it.

"I don't get it," Logan muttered. "Something's wrong with Shelly�"

"Oh maybe she needs to get out like the rest of us," said Alex. "Besides, what's it to you anyway, Mister Romance�"

"Do me a favor and shut up, Alex," Logan snorted as he walked out. "Mind yer own damn business�"

"What crawled up HIS ass?" whispered Alex.

"Gambit don't know. But probably typical. Wait till he get a few glasses of scotch in him� and a few cigars�"

"Yeah, that'll straighten him out�" Bobby laughed.

"You're staying here�"

"No way, leader man! I promise I won't drink," Bobby retorted.

"All right, you can go. Be glad that Dr. MacTaggert's here while the Professor's gone to watch the kids�" said Scott with a hint of warning. "Don't abuse your privileges�"

"Yeah yeah, I gotcha loud an clear, Summers," said Bobby. "Now why are we siting around waiting? Last one in the showers is dead�"

"You sonova� better not use up all the hot water!" Alex shouted as he rushed off after Bobby. Gambit and the others dispersed, leaving Scott frowning slightly. He had seen Logan rush off in a huff, and wondered what had happened to trigger it this time.
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Ultimate Coverup