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Wraith's Menagerie	By : Polymer Category: X-men Comics > Het - Male/Female Views: 2705 -:- 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
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Cellmates

Disclaimer: I don't own Ultimate X men, Marvel does. I don't get PAID For this either, because this is Fanfiction and it means no harm to the series or creators. The disclaimer applies to ALL chapters posted after this one as well.

This is a flashback sequence that happens someplace during Logan�s stay in Japan in my Ultimate Mariko fanfiction. Can be a stand alone story as well.

Memories spun through her head that night. All of what Gambit had said spun in her brain, spilling over into her subconscious. While during the day her mind blocked certain times, during night the floodgates opened.

Now as she lay there next to Logan, she slowly thrashed, groaning as she recalled another slew of memories from the very beginning�. Something about that tag Gambit had found unlocked a name that she had long forgotten. That and a ring that she�d seen Logan tossing up and down, bearing the name James�

***

While Mariko Yashida was Creed�s 'geisha', she would have the urge to use her favor with him to help her cousin and fellow mutants have more food rations and medicine. In return, she took more menial tasks of feeding the more difficult mutants. Through careful nudging she gained sympathy for the subject Wolverine, and would sneak him food and medicines when he was locked in his cage. Sabretooth's hatred would fuel the subversive aims, but that was all part of the plan�

She�d first heard about Wolverine from snatches of conversation. X-1 was under detention when he protested the program. However Creed's attempts to break Mariko proved futile, but his training held. He voluntarily injected Mariko with blood transfusions during several bloody training sessions with Deathstrike. However, this made her a genetic relative, and thus less of a temptation to 'breed'.

The ultimate aim was to crossbreed the Japanese operatives with the five originals. Various offspring were conceived but weapon X conditioning obliterated any memories of them. They were classified as security A 1 blackout. When Creed was called away to another 'mission' with Maverick, Silver Fox, and Kestrel, subject Wolverine was detained for reconditioning and 'breeding'.

Agent Michelle, formerly Mariko through conditioning was primarily used in the laboratory per Creed's insistence. He was successful in conditioning her to his whims, but due to her carrying his genetic material was not allowed to 'breed' with her. Agents Kwannon and Yukio were sold to Shinobi Shaw to infiltrate the Hand and learn their techniques as ninjas. Deathstrike was also used, but managed to break free and join the Hand against her Weapon X conditioning, while Kwannon and Yukio remained conditioned under Shaw's direct commands. Shiro and Mariko were the only ones left after Shinobi betrayed his Weapon X alliances to pursue his own aims.

Now Creed was away on a mission to Cozumel, and her duties had shifted. For the past few weeks she had been given food by Dr. Kinney, who pitied the subject X-1 and allowed to tend him. She managed to order KFC from the local canteen, which she carried with the medical supplies Dr. Kinney allowed her to have.

She always hated going to the Compound. Where the less fortunate mutant operatives were housed when they disobeyed or were first brought for questioning. She walked past the checkpoint, glancing wildly to see if Shiro was there. Shivering she noticed that cage was empty.

"What are you looking for, Mutie?" asked the soldier nearby, writing on a clipboard.

"Sunfire? Is he here? I�m here to tend to the subject under Dr. Kinney�s orders, she�s substituting for Dr. Cornelious� Stryker sent me�"

"Wraith�s in charge here, X-34," he said, glancing at her arms. "You�re that lab tech� well seems yer job description�s changed?"

"Where is Sunfire?"

"That�s for us to know an� for you to find out. Move on will ya?" the man laughed, swatting her backside. "And I can�t WAIT to see you tonight� Yum-yum�"

She winced at the purjorative kissy face he gave her, and approached the next place. Shots were exploding amidst loud snarls. She ducked behind an empty cage, seeing Reese and Harisson emptying round after submachine round into the occupant of the cage twenty feet away.

"That�s enough� I think he�s got the lesson," Reese snickered. Mariko shivered at the sign of the figure laying there, bleeding. Her stomach squirmed, and she forced down the fear that gnawed her. They said her kind were animals, but seeing this�

Animals shouldn�t be treated like this�

She advanced after two minutes, clearly standing in full view of the guards who tended the special adamantium reinforced cage. Reese barked, "What are YOU here for?"

"I was sent to tend him," said her voice. "To see Capt. Howlett�"

"By whose authority?" Harrison asked.

"Colonel Stryker," she said firmly.

"Oh it's little Miss Yum-Yum," Sgt. Reese leered. "Ya sure you're in the right place? Ain't anybody named Howlett here�"

"Shut up, you know we can't touch her," said the other guard. Moving past them she unlocked the cell. Wolverine snarled smelling Creed on her body. What torture was this?

"I mean Mutant X-1," Mariko said stiffly, wrinkling her nose. Barely had he hung on by the skin of his teeth, the animal in him the only thing keeping him going. He heard a shriek as a warm body collided with his. Creed's stench covered her, mingled with the smell of Original Recipe KFC, and a smell of lotus blossoms.

"Why doncha keep HIM company, Yum-yum,' laughed the sergeant.

"Let me out!" she yelled.

X1 seized her by the neck, roaring as he slammed her to the cage wall. Dark eyes fixed into his, bright with shock. However the fear dissipated as they stared into his blue ones. "I won't hurt you� I know you smell him on me� but I'm NOT his willingly," she said in Japanese.

Three adamantium claws slid out with a rasp of metal on metal, inches from her throat. Snarling, X-1 tightened his grip on her neck, and the white-coated researcher continued to stare at him, gasping. "No� I'm a prisoner too," she gasped. He heard the laughs of the men and the jeering as they spat and wolf whistled.

"Beauty and the beast!" the sergeant leered. "Let�s see if the Wolverine tears her apart!"

"RRRRRAGGH," X-1 snarled, and then buried his nose in her neck. Lotus and plum blossoms. She smelled like a woman. With one claw he slid her collar aside and saw no bite mark.

"You're called X-1, but that isn't your real name," she said calmly.

"Logan," he mumbled all he could remember. IT seemed to fit, and trying to push any further invoked a thousand daggers of pain.

"Logan� I know they hurt you� I've got food for you� please� I know you won't hurt me. You're a human being� not an animal� I only want to help you�"

"What's going on� why can't I�?" X-1 trailed off. Deeply he inhaled her scent, and retracted his claws.

"I'm not afraid of you, Logan," she said softly, and he released her neck. In shock he backed away, seeing the food in her hands. He smelled medicinal alcohol and the clean sterile scent of bandages.

"I am an animal," he said in Japanese as he huddled away from her.

"I don't care," she said. "I'm X-34� but I'm called� M� Mi�"

Mariko gasped at the pain shooting through her mind. Struggling to say her own name was impossible. She stammered as her lips struggled to form the name.

"You're trapped too," X-1 said as he saw the guards watching them like caged animals. Snarling he turned and grabbed the bars rattling them. The two guards backed away, one of them showing a wet stain between his legs.

"Let's get outta here," they whimpered.

X-1 exhaled, releasing the adamantium bars. Mariko huddled there, her knee hurting as she knelt by the cage door. Still her black eyes focused on X-1, no hint of pity. Just concern for him. "Fuckin' bastards," he mumbled. "Amusin' themselves again�"

"I� here you look hungry� Let me look at that," she said firmly. X-1 hissed in pain as her hands touched him, but she kept them in full view. With a pair of forceps she pulled each bullet out and dropped them into a kidney basin. The sting of her antiseptic and bandages was momentary.

Grabbing the food, he began to wolf it down. He was working on the mashed potatoes and gravy when he saw her watching him.

"What?" he asked. "Never seen an animal eat?"

"I don't see an animal. Just a man in a cage," Mariko said quietly, still working on cleaning his legs. "Who is as trapped as I am�"

"But why� why did you help me?" he asked.

"Because I wanted to," Mariko said. X-1 saw her eyes so clear and her smell so true. Anger twisted to remorse and for the first time he turned from a woman. In shame and fear he dropped his food, and huddled.

"Lemmie be," he muttered.

"No," she said softly. "I'm not afraid of you, Logan-san� afraid for you� I couldn't let those gaijin hurt you�"

He curled up on the floor. Shivering in shock which was something he'd hardly done. Naked and dirty he twisted his body from her. He heard the rustle of cloth as the technician shed her smock and draped it over him. Her hands were soft. X-1 grabbed them and saw the X-34 on her arm and fine scars. She did something that astonished him. She actually smiled at him.

"Can't remember," he murmured. "How I� learned to speak your language. Can hardly speak English�"

"Japanese?" he asked. "How the hell can I speak Japanese?"

"Yes," she said. "I don�t know why you can either� maybe you were in a mission there� and they programmed you to forget?"

"Reconditioning� must be� or else�" he groaned. "So hard t� think� just started speakin� in your lingo without thinking� it happens� more an� more� got languages I didn�t even know I could speak popping outta no place�"

"It�s all right� shhh� we can speak in English if you prefer�" Mariko offered.

X-1 accepted her arms around him as she lay his head on her chest, and pulled the coat around him to cover his nakedness and gore. She hugged him close, and he lay his head and shoulders on her lap. She fought back the tears that dripped down her cheeks as she rocked him and sang to him softly. X-1 cried for the first time in his memory.

"They said you were called Wolverine?" Mariko whispered, stroking his soft black hair.

"I� it�s not my real name," he whispered, pressing his head into her lap. "They're tryin' t' make me forget� I�"

"I know�" she whispered. "It's the memory implantation, isn't it?"

"I don't wanna forget� please don't let me forget�"

"Tell me all you remember," she urged. "Maybe I'll be able to remember for you and me both�Wolverine�"

"That ain't� my real name� it�s� I can't� J� J�"

"Logan?"

"Was it� but I remember it bein� something� else� damn�"

"John� Jack� Jim?" she asked soothingly, knowing that the process of obliterating his identity had gone on for a long while.

"James�" he burst out, gripping her hands tightly. "My name�"

She reached down and grasped the dog tags jingling around his neck, and hers. She saw the clean break that snapped them in two, and held up a metal tag clutched in her hand. "I saw them break this off of you� James� It matches�"

He seized her hand, glancing down at the bit of metal laying there on her palm. Reading it, and squeezing his eyes in pain. "What� it's my name� but I can't fuckin' say it� you said it just before�"

"Yes, that's your name. James. James Howlett," she nodded, and then took a deep breath. "I'm Mari� Mariko� oh Kami it hurts� I can't�"

"They want you t' forget too," he gasped. "They're doin' it to you too� aren't they�"

"James� Howlett," she whispered. "That's what it says� Captain� birthplace Edmonton Alberta�"

"Yours�" he grabbed at her tag, tugging it out of her neck. "Mariko� Yashida� Tokyo Japan. Yer Japanese all right but what are ya doin' here in Dept. H�"

"You're remembering� James," she said, stroking his sideburns.

"Yeah� it's comin' back� sometimes it does� after I settle down� shit� Ohh Mariko... such a pretty name... I promise ya I'll say it every time ya can't say it..." he sniffled, kissing her hands gratefully as he squeezed them between his. Swallowing hard she endured the painful viselike grip, seeing relief flooding his face.

"But your last name�

Yashida� Yashida� my last mission�"

"Yes James� spoils of war�"

"You were Shingen's� niece�"

"Yes� given over with my father� Dr. Hikaru Yashida� he works with the man� the one who did this to you�" she whispered.

"Fuck� but what� oh shit it's slipping away again� I�"

"Remember� try to remember� just relax," she urged, and he managed to sit up shakily, glancing at her. She wore a simple blouse and conservative skirt instead of the usual one piece uniforms he saw operatives wear, and a pair of stockings. Her shoes were gone, having been lost when she threw them at the men. Long black hair was twisted up into a traditional bun with a few pretty silver clips. Traces of white makeup lingered on her face.

"What�s� this?" he asked, dragging his finger through it.

"They have me dress up as geisha to please them," Mariko blushed. "Serve them tea�"

"Crap, you mean yer�"

"No� nothing like that. Although they THREATEN me. And when I�m not amusing the men� I�m in the lab� but lately they�ve been having me feed everyone in the compound here� I think they�re worried I�m learning too much about what I�m supposed to be working on� ever since Stryker�"

"Stryker? Did you say Stryker?" he bristled, growling low in his throat as he caught her hand.

"He and Colonel Wraith�" she said with a shiver. "I�ve been giving what food I can take to my cousin here� and I saw they threw you in here� I have no idea where they put my cousins Shiro and Lieu�"

"They�re� operatives� I saw �em� in training� never saw you� but ya say ya belong t�� Creed?"

"Till recently. He�s on a mission� I think they�re taking advantage of the fact that while he�s gone they�ll have their fun�"

"Damn�" he sighed. "So hard t� think� if I�d known�" he shook his head.

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Wraith's Menagerie