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[Assistant]
The Rudiments of Wisdom – part six: Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow
Wisdom’s narration:
 We are the Martians. H.G. Wells didn’t say that. But that’s what his novel meant. They’re the British past. Here to do to us what we did to the world. They came through the interdimensional portal in formation at high speed. The dead must number in the thousands. The London I saw in my terrible dream. Only in Britain could this be the result of bureaucratic infighting.
Martian tripods lay waste to London and its citizens. In the Docklands, Alistaire Stuart snarls at Pete to snap out of it. He explains that the Martians rule an entire parallel Earth which they invaded six years ago. But they only have one entrance to this universe. If they can…
Pete interrupts him with a warning, telling him to move his elderly arse and he hotknives a Jack the Ripper who had been sneaking up on them. He surmises that Ransom brought the Rippers back. Victorian Martians. Jack the Bloody Ripper. This bloody country. Like him. Never gonna escape their past. Funny he should mention that… comes a voice, ‘cause the Skrull Beatles have reformed, Sir. Before them stand John the Skrull, along with the other Skrull Beatles decked out in Sergeant Pepper style uniforms.
Hang on, he was always a good boy, Skrull Paul protests. He means reformed like luncheon meat, Skrull George helpfully explains. He could just do with a bit of luncheon meat, muses Skrull Ringo.
And he found them an army, comes the voice of Captain Midlands, as he joins them along with armed ordinary citizens. Just like in the Blitz. Ordinary Londoners defending what’s theirs. The Martians won’t like it up ‘em.  He informs Pete that Tink is gonna catch up with them. She’s got ‘summat to sort out. Sorry he mentioned the war. He knows Pete doesn’t like it. Pete tells him to mention what he wants. Maureen’s the key to all this– They fight their way to the dimensional portal. They close it. They save her. His nightmare will not come true.
Martian invasion command, Wapping, where Maureen and Ransom stand surrounded by armed guards, in front of one tentacled Martian. So, Maureen, surmises, they are either Martians or Blancmanges. Marching on the capital. Well, awkwardly shuffling. If they ever invent the wheel, then they’ll be really scary. Isn’t she scared? Ransom asks amused. Oh yeah, Mo replies. But while she’s mouthing off, she’s feisty heroine. Nothing bad happens to feisty heroine.
The Martian lifts up a human who is joined with him via the tentacles. He acts as his translation slave. He informs Mo that she is the mother of Jonathan Raven. Power of her bloodline is visible through the universes. Mo gets aggressive as she demands to know what this is about her son. The Martian laughs. Family. Silly humans. Only safe as their property. On their Earth, Jonathan is raised in slave pens. But he is a precog. He has seen their future. On their Earth unless his will broken Raven will challenge them. On all Earths. Always. Everyone of them is dangerous. Ruling council finds Earths. So first he urged them on this first expedition. Now. Before Killraven is grown.
They are afraid of her son? Maureen snarls bravely while the Martian’s servants hold her back. They should be. They want to see what he does to his monster toys? She has photos. The Martian scientist comes closer, bearing a kind of silver glowing metal circlet. It is fitted around her head and energy flows into her. The human informs his Martian master that the dimensional gateway is now fused to the subject’s brain.
Ransom addresses the Martian, stating that he brought her here as ordered. Their beautiful Victorian future is there. Where does he fit in? What’s his reward? His master speaking through him, the slave replies that Ransom knows them through “fiction.” Does he remember where humans “fit in?” The Martian’s tentacles grab Ransom and begin sucking from him. But they are his destiny! Ransom protests. Ever since the lightning! The Martian sucks him dry and his corpse falls down. With the tentacles almost lovingly cradling an unconscious Maureen, the slave remarks that the dimension doorway is a part of her now. They are safe now. They are happy now.
Elsewhere, Pete and the others keep on fighting the Martians and their servants which are everywhere and are protecting all approaches to their command centres. In the air, the Skrull Beatles find they can’t get through either and Skrull George protests that they were supposed to be the alien invaders. It’s a right liberty, this lot jumping in.
But the cavalry comes in the form of Oberon and other giants from Otherworld. Tink asks Pete if he remembers that contract of theirs? It included a mutual protection treaty. For Avalon! For Otherworld! For Earth! Oberon shouts as he single-handedly fells a tripod. Best contract he ever entered into, Pete admits. That’s a good way to put it, Tink replies. Like she said at the time. She gonna try and help him save his girl then? Pete asks. Yeah, but don’t tell Dad, Tink agrees.
Alistaire watches his scanner. While they are finishing this, lot of tripods one comes through every five minutes. For the last three hours. The military are on their way. They’ll be too late. Oh, fantastic, Pete moans. They’ve got an army made up of Beatles and Faries to fight H.G. Well’s Martians and bloody Jack the Rippers… Who’s next? Dick van Dyke? Mr Bean? John Cleese and his dead parrot? No, Captain Britain, the foremost British superhero replies as he smashes through another tripod.
Pete muses that every British person thinks he’s got the same accent as them. The air around him is warm like a summer meadow. He smells of honey. He’s seen grown men weep at the sight of him. So he greets him with a You tosser! Took your time, didn’t you? Spot of bother at the polo club, was there? Charming as ever, Captain Britain replies and tells Sir Clive Reston to bring in his chopper now.
Reston and MI-13’s scientist O come in. Sir Clive tells Pete that his lack of trust in Pete’s department caused this and he won’t blame Pete if he feels… Hitting him, Pete asks if he won’t? Great.
Feeling better? Sir Clive asks. Yeah. Because he may wish to do that again. He orders O to tell them. O explains that he did a kabbalistic/Higgs field analysis of the Martians’ dimensional gateway. It has a human component. Miss Raven’s power establishes a channel between her and the mind she’s controlling. The Martians laid a trap for her inside Ransom’s mind. And sent the signal that guided them here down that channel. They’ve hardwired it into her. Does Pete know what that means? Sir Clive asks. It means they get her to the best telepath in the world, Pete replies. His number’s in Pete’s mobile. Captain Britain has a forcefield right? Okay then… take me to the Martians.
Amidst the battle, Cap flies Pete to the Martian command centre, asking what he thinks of the view. He’s seen better, Pete replies unimpressed. At least Reston’s lot are keeping some of the flak off them.
Reston, Oberon’s troops and the rest of MI-13 are battling. Firing at them with a very large gun, Sir Clive orders the Skrull Beatles to lure the tripods over here. He doesn’t feel very alluring, Skrull Ringo tells Skrull John. Does he feel very alluring? And less of the banter, Reston orders. He’s a very clean man, isn’t he? Skrull John observes. So when this is all over are they still gonna be the Skrull Beatles then? Ringo wonders. He quite fancies being the Skrull Monkees for a bit, John decides. The dialogue’s easier, George agrees. As long as he gets to be Peter Tork, Paul decides.
As Captain Britain is fired at by two tripods, he drops Pete onto the command centre platform. Wisdom lands smack-dab on the Martian scientist who tries to absorb him. Several hotknives take care of that though, and the Martian. Wisdom fells the guards holding Maureen and takes off the head set. The two kiss and Maureen decides she may have been hasty about them breaking up. She tries to tell him about the thing the Martians put in her but is interrupted by Captain Britain, who tells them to come all aboard the skylark. Friend of his? Maureen asks. Nah, Wisdom replies as Cap takes them back.
Five minutes later, they all gather at an abandoned warehouse where Stuart has some grim news for them: killing their scientist and taking Maureen has changed the Martians’ tactics not at all. The Martians are trashing their air raids. They don’t seem worried that they freed Maureen. Maybe because she’s not so important? Wisdom asks hopefully. O replies that this isn’t the case. Miss Raven’s cell structure has changed. She is their gateway now. It can’t be reversed. Maureen can feel it. She can feel them using her. They know humans, sir Clive remarks as he takes a gun, pointing it at Maureen. They think humans are too weak to do what must be done.
Wisdom destroys the gun with a hotknife. Try that again and he’ll take Reston’s fucking arm off, he threatens. Maureen interjects. They haven’t got much time. Where is her son? Reston explains that they followed the original plan. Shang-Chi’s taken him out of the country. They won’t find him. All right, she decides and asks Pete to come up on the roof with her please. And would he please bring along a… she hesitates… a gun?
On the roof, they look down on the devastated London. There’s red weed now, she observes. Like in the book already. Looking at the gun, she thinks about her son. Why can’t she just do it? Pete asks her to let him find another way. There is magi. They could send her to Avalon. It’s still Britain and he knows it, Maureen replies. They’d finish them off there and then come after her. And take their dreams too. And Oberon didn’t have any suggestions. How long would it take for them to find that magic? Every second she waits, people die. She has to do it now. She doesn’t want her little boy to know she committed suicide. She doesn’t want to keep thinking about it. She’d always wanted it to be by surprise, with hope in her head. Out of a clear blue sky…
Pete interrupts her. He tells her he just got a text message by Alistaire Stuart. He’s thought of something. He can sort her out. Maureen is relived. So the two of them have the whole future together now? She’s going to have time to show him what a good man he is. Yeah. He tells her to go ahead downstairs. He’ll be a sec. He’s gotta piss. Maureen runs ahead and Pete shoots her in the head.
Moments later, all Martians disappear.
The others come to the roof and find Pete cradling Maureen’s corpse. Captain Midlands and Tink try to comfort him. “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make,” announces Skrull John thoughtfully.
At the MI-6 Safehouse in Prague, Shang-Chi informs Jonathan Raven of his mother’s death. Later, he trains Jonathan in combat. With his choice of weaponry and the bandana, Jonathan becomes already somewhat reminiscent of his possible future self Killraven.
Somewhere near Cardiff weeks later, Pete phones Kitty Pryde. Kitty heard of her death and of how special Maureen was. Pete tells her he doesn’t know why he called. No, he hasn’t talked about it to anyone. But that’s no why he… Well, if she wants to hear… It’s a long story. Yeah she can do that. She can go and get a cushion…


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[Assistant]
Bloody Wedding
The minister concludes the wedding ceremony: “By the power vested in me by the city of Las Vegas and the State of Nevada, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may…er… you may…” he flounders as he sees the newlyweds, Wolverine and Sara Pezzini, already locking lips, oblivious to his words. The minister interjects and stresses that will be twenty dollars, please!
“Viva Las Vegas, baby,” Wolverine tells his beautiful pride, a scantily-clad Sara Pezzinni, dressed only in her bra, a pair of white shorts and white high-heel boots, complete with the mandatory bridal veil. Tonight, Wolverine feels deliriously happy. It can’t get any better. However, he and his wife can give it a try, he cheerfully contemplates. The ceremony concluded, Wolverine exits the chapel in customary fashion, carrying his bride in his arms, before the couple enters the enormous limousine waiting for them outside.
Sara sits on top of him and kisses him… and just then, Wolverine’s prediction that it can’t get any better is proven painfully correct: all of a sudden, he screams with pain and squeezes the bottle of whiskey he was holding. Under the tremendous pressure of his fist, the bottle shatters. Terrified, Sara asks him if everything’s okay; what’s the matter? Gritting his teeth, Wolverine explains that something hurts, deep in his chest. He feels his trunk and exclaims, “What the hell?” as he realizes it’s inexplicably swollen. Sara confirms it looks nasty and tries to touch it. Wolverine groans that it feels rough to the touch, like there’s something beneath the skin…
Suddenly, he howls in pain as a spike is violently expunged from his chest. He then collapses as a panicked Sara begins screaming: “Ohmigodohmigodohmigod!” Addressing Wolverine as “Scotty,” she begs him not to die on her! She then urges the driver to take them to Desert Palms Hospital… and to floor it! “No!” Wolverine protests – no hospital! “Are you insane?” Sara snaps at him. She stresses this is her wedding day – she is not going from bride to widow in the same damn hour!
Suddenly, she gasps in shock as she sees the open wound on Wolverine’s chest healing itself at a rapid pace. Within seconds, it is like the wound was never there. Wolverine and Sara exchange glances of pure astonishment.
Later, Wolverine and Sara are still in their limousine, facing each other, perplexed and wary. Sara remarks this is unreal. Wolverine seconds that. Sara grouses there’s no more champagne. Logan asks her if she’s drunk. Sara admits she’d wish. She remarks this sucks. Wolverine agrees. He suggests they take a look at the spike. Sara tells him it’s stuck on the briefcase. They notice a card on the case. Wolverine reads it: “For you new lives together, may love conquer all.” Wolverine wonders whose gift it is. Sara doesn’t know. Logan suggests she takes the spike while he opens the briefcase. In your dreams, Sara retorts – they’ll open this case together.
They finally open it, only to see it packed full with money. “How much?” an astounded Sara exclaims. Logan estimates it must be at least a million. Upon realizing they’re rich, an ecstatic Sara hugs and kisses Logan. Still, a suspicious Wolverine wonders where it came from. “The tooth fairy, who cares?!” Sara impatiently retorts. “What about the spike?” Logan insists. “Who cares?” Sara snaps back. “All that matters is that I love you, Scott!” she stresses. Wolverine protests that’s not his name! Sara retorts that of course it is – it says so on the marriage license! He is Scott! Wolverine goes berserk and roars that’s not his name – and then unsheathes his claws and presses them against Sara’s throat!
Wolverine and Sara don’t talk much after that incident; there isn’t a whole lot either of them can say. Sara soon finds herself sitting alone in a restaurant, having a drink by herself, brooding and staring at her wedding ring, lamenting everything that happened. As she studies the spike that was expelled from Wolverine’s torso, she watches in awe as it is absorbed by her right hand and merges with it. Moments later, it re-emerges, now fully covering her.
Wolverine suddenly shows up behind her. Noticing she has used her claw to carve something on her table, he asks her what she’s drawing. Good question, Sara replies; what is she drawing? Looks like he isn’t the only one with an edge, she quips. She realizes she has carved the face of a young woman. She senses she knows this girl – but more than that, she can’t remember.
Wolverine hands her his cell phone and urges her to make a call; the first number that pops into her head. Sara complies. She is greeted by an answering machine, which informs her she’s reached the voice mail of Sara Pezzini of the New York Police Department. Sara immediately realizes the badge is her; she’s a cop.
Now it’s Wolverine’s turn. He instinctively calls the 9-1-4 area code. Sara realizes that’s directly north of the city. A female voice answers the phone: “Xavier Institute, good evening.” Wolverine instantly recalls her name: “Sage?” “Logan?!” Sage exclaims in shock, realizing who he is. She asks him where he is. What’s his status? He’s been missing for three days. They were getting concerned. Does he require assistance? “Not yet,” Logan replies. He’s still got some things to work out. He promises he’ll be in touch and hangs up.
The morose duo sits silently on the table, until Sara breaks the silence, telling Wolverine that he’s a mutant. “Come again?” Wolverine exclaims. Sara reminds him she’s a detective. The healing; the blades in his hand; the place he called. He’s from that school in Westchester. He’s one of the X-Men. He is Wolverine. Logan retorts his name’s Logan and has a sip of drink. Mocking her, he tells her that since she’s tonight’s “Answer Gal,” what’s the spike that she now wields on her hand? Sara explains it’s a fragment of the Witchblade. “The Digitabulum,” Logan remarks. Sara asks him if he knows it. Wolverine admits he knows of it. He’s been around awhile. He’s heard some stories.
Pointing at the woman’s face she just carved on the table, Sara asks him if she’s from her side of the street or his. “I’d say a little of both,” Logan replies. Sara wonders: what’s her game? “Happily ever after, maybe?” Wolverine exclaims. He reminds her they’re in love. They’re married. They got a cool million in cash. What do they need with Kaylie? What do they care? They go their way, she goes hers, end of story. Sara notices that he talks like that’s a good thing. The best that ever happened, Logan insists. Sara stresses that he knows the young woman’s name. Wolverine insists that Sara’s the one who matters. Deep down inside, isn’t this what she wants? More than my life, Sara admits. However, she wonders: is that what she wants… or what they’ve both been told?
Logan suddenly tells her they’ve got company. A group of formally-dressed, imposing men stands before them. Sara asks Logan if he knows these guys. Wolverine stresses they know the type. And he definitely knows the girl that is with them – Kaylie. “Oh, Kaylie… what have you done?” he wonders in agony. Extracting his claws, he urges Sara to hit the deck and leave this to him!
As Wolverine leaps up against the gang of thugs, their leader orders his men to spare the woman… and kill the man. Riddled with bullets, Wolverine collapses to the ground. Mourning his passing, Sara tells Logan she is so sorry. Standing on her feet, she addresses the ringleader by his name: Simyon Lebedev. “You know me, pretty lady?” the mafia boss exclaims. Sara is familiar with him. He runs the Odessa mafia up and down the Pacific Coast. He wants to expand to New York.
“My condolences… Detective Pezzini!” Lebedev replies. He realizes he has made her a widow and on her wedding day. He clarifies he knows who she is – and what she is. Among certain circles she has quite a… reputation. So does he. Pointing at Kaylie, he asks Sara to see that exquisite creature. Her father was a federal witness against Lebedev. The only reason the daughter’s escaped is that she’s a mutant, attending some school outside New York. Kaylie wanted Lebedev dead and she acquired Sara’s famous trinket to do the deed. Apparently, she wanted to give Sara a better life in return. He believes Sara should have taken the gift.
The girl thought she could control the Witchblade as she did Sara. Instead, it bonded to the rage and violence in Kaylie’s soul. And because she is innocent, because she is not Sara, she could not resist. The Witchblade loves her because of what she asks it to do. The devil is free; it will never be caged again. The question now is, Lebedev stresses, what to do with Sara? Horrified, Sara watches as the magical Witchblade begins expanding all over Kaylie’s body, shredding her clothes and covering her body like armor.
Lebedev still wonders what he will do with Sara. A bullet to the head? Too many complications. He decides it’s better to keep things neat and simple. Tough but lonely big city cop comes to Vegas in search of true love. She finds the man of her dreams, only to have him break her heart. She loses everything. She has nothing. She is nothing. Life is unendurable; best to make an end of it. As Lebedev speaks, Kaylie commands the Witchblade artifact to generate a simulacrum of Sara, a mirror image of her to further taunt her and push her to suicide. Sara finds herself ready to jump off the ledge of the roof restaurant… and then she makes her decision: “No.”
“As you wish,” Lebedev says and prepares to shoot her in the head. “Weren’t you listening, tovarisch? The lady said no!” a fully recovered Wolverine growls and swiftly cuts Lebedev’s armed hand off! What follows isn’t much of a fight of Wolverine. Lebedev’s hired help are great with guns – but so is Sara. Wolverine quickly makes short work of the thugs, thanks to his adamantium-laced bones, his healing factor and his claws. Of course, none of that helped much the last time he faced the Witchblade – and indeed, at that very moment, Kaylie pierces right through his chest with her Witchblade spikes and keeps him nailed on a wall. Kaylie wishes to see how well he fights… after she carves out his living heart!
Seeing one of Kaylie’s spikes going right at Logan’s chest, Sara intervenes and places herself in front of Logan’s body. Kaylie’s spike pierces through her left shoulder. “Finish them, my pet. Burn them to ashes, body and soul!” Lebedev urges Kaylie. Logan moans that he’s got no leverage, no way to cut them loose. Sara tells him it’s okay; she can leave this to her. Logan groans that Kaylie is just a kid. All the more reason she has to be stopped, Sara retorts.
Exhibiting tremendous strength, Sara extracts Kaylie’s spike from her shoulder and grasps the spike, pushing Kaylie towards her. She retorts that even though Kaylie caught her by surprise before, now it’s her turn. Kaylie stole what’s hers, by right and by destiny. Sara wants it back. The Witchblade suddenly goes wild, engulfing both women, just as Kaylie screams.
All anyone knows about the Witchblade is stories. Some call it a weapon, some say it’s alive. Only one woman in a generation can wield it. Kaylie didn’t know any better, she thought of it as a magic gun. If she had, she wouldn’t have gone near it. For Simyon, the slaughter was a turn-on. He worshipped the Witchblade because he loved the killing. It never occurred to him that he’d be among the victims. As Sara slays him, she hates what the Blade does. It’s plain in her scent and the stance of her body. Maybe that’s what makes her the ideal champion to wield it.
After the ordeal is over, Logan and Sara stand outside the restaurant, watching as the ambulances pick up the dead and injured ones. Logan wonders how much trouble they’re in. Sara thinks it could be worse. Kaylie’s under observation at the Desert Palms Hospital. A day or so, he should be able to take her home. Logan reminds her they’ve still got the car. They’ve got the mil. They’ve got the dream. Sara retorts it’s still a dream. For now, for them, his claws, her Witchblade, and all they entail… that’s reality. Maybe, Logan concurs – but you never know, he adds. Dreams are what make reality worth living. And even for the likes of them, sometimes they come true, he concludes and holds hands with her.


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[Assistant]
Cursed part 1
Utopia, inside a secure medical lab reminiscent of a Plexiglas cage stands Jubilee. Angrily, she points at the people outside, says something and hammers against the invisible wall. Frustrated, she sinks down. Is that the improvement they were looking for? Scott Summers asks Dr. Kavita Rao. How long before the blood therapy starts to work? If it works. It’s working all right, Rao tells him.
The White Queen snarks she should get her a dictionary for Christmas. Impatiently, Dr. Rao tells them that Jubilee’s brain activity is clearly showing that the healing factor from Wolverine’s blood is doing its job. The dampening they were hoping for is absolutely under way.
She’s still a vampire though, Emma states. That’s never going to change, Rao insists. But as long as Jubilee’ continues to be transfused with Wolverine’s blood, it’ll keep the edge of her Id.
Jubilee throws her weight against the wall, which slowly cracks. It’s not working, Emma decides. It is! Rao retorts, but the rest is up to Jubilee. And them, Wolverine finally speaks up and asks her to turn the sound on. He wants to speak with her.
He tells Jubilee “hello” and asks what she is doing in there. Jubilee explains she’s really angry and that’s her talking. Not the other part. When he tells her that is a problem, she retorts they can’t stop her from feeling things. She’ll be angry, if she wants to, and she really wants to! They need to know she isn’t going to hurt anybody, he explains, and that includes herself. Oh, she states.
Wolverine orders Rao to let her out. She agrees that they should go ahead. As far as she can tell, this is as normal as Jubilee is ever going to get. What they are doing here is like dialysis. It’s management, not a cure. How often? Cyclops asks. What’s their window? Right now, 24 hours. It may be longer or shorter. It may change over time if she develops immunity or a positive mutation. In the meantime…
They need to get her back in the saddle, Emma spells it out. Logan promises he will look after her. Scott reminds him she is a vampire. Logan hates vampires. She turned him into a vampire. Scott isn’t comfortable with this. Logan tells him to get comfortable. He wasn’t asking! He won’t lose track of her. She stinks. Of what? Emma asks. Of him, and what is it with her and horses?
Sometime later, Jubilee sits in her room staring at a refrigerator full of bottles with Wolverine’s blood. She slams the door shut with her foot. Wolverine enters her room and warns her to be careful with that. He tells her to behave herself or Rao’s gonna tie her down and put that catheter back in her neck. And if the way she draws blood is any indication, he wouldn’t go that route. He suggests she get some exercise. What is she supposed to do? Go outside for a run? Is it a nice sunny day? Jubilee snarks. Catheter, he repeats. Sorry, she mutters.
So later, in the gym, she does her own version of weight lifting, namely by lifting Rockslide, who babbles, not knowing whether or not he should talk with her. He offers someone to talk to. Jubilee points out that they don’t really have much in common. And he doesn’t want to talk to her. She is bad company. She feels like she’s a million years old, she complains. He’s made of rock, Santo points out. So he actually is a million years old. Maybe they have more in common than she thinks.
What does he want from her? she asks annoyed. He just wants to help… Is he a shrink? she asks. Does his dad work in a pharmacy? Is he her boyfriend? When he answers “no” to all, she points out he can only help her by sitting there and being heavy.
Armor tosses a weight at Santo’s head. Aggressively, she asks Jubilee what the hell she is doing with him. Armor hit him in the head, Santo points out. Hisako apologizes, she wasn’t’ aiming at him. But he shouldn’t be alone with Jubilee. He’s a bonehead if he thinks they can all be friends!
Jubilee tells her to settle down. Armoring up, Hisako shouts at her not to tell her what to do. Jubilee points out that Hisako came in throwing her weight around. There’s no problem except her, so get lost! Armor replies she’s just saying what everyone is thinking. Deal with it! Jubilee manifests her fangs.
Wolverine shouts at them both to put their weapons away. Armor complains, what about Jubilee? Nobody believes she can just turn it off. How’s she gonna put her fangs away? Wolverine retorts that Jubilee’s situation is under control. He tells her to go read a book or something and orders Jubilee to go see Emma who wants to talk with her. Then he orders “Sanchez” to get off the equipment before he breaks it. Santo, Rockslide corrects him. How much does he weigh anyhow? Wolverine asks him. A lot, he replies. That’s what he was afraid of.
In her office, Emma asks Jubilee how she is holding up. She is a vampire, Jubilee reminds her sarcastically. She wears white after Labor Day, Emma retorts. Nobody’s perfect. And if they are having a contests of errors in judgment, Emma will win.
She knows Jubilee has done terrible things and that she remembers them all. She will always be responsible for that. In fact, she’d like to make sure of it but… What does she want her to do about it? Jubilee interrupts. Emma continues that Jubilee has people here who believe in her and want to help her make the best of what she is now.
How is she going to help her do that? Jubilee snarls. “Let’s start looking at colleges!” she suggests sarcastically. Emma can help her pick a major. If she wants to go to college, she can go to college, Emma agrees. She doesn’t… Emma tells her to shut up. In case she hasn’t noticed: they’ve been helping people deal with unusual conditions in their lives for quite a while now.
This is not a mutation, Jubilee states simply. Nothing good can come of it. Emma reminds her she has met vampires that have found a way to be at peace with this. What about the Anchorite sect? She doesn’t want to be a $&%* farmer! Jubilee complains and buries her head in her hands. She’s just having a real hard time being nice to people! Well, she knows what that’s like, Emma admits dryly.
Jubilee continues she doesn’t know which part of her that is. She feels like she’s drowning in her own blood and she’s terrified to open her mouth because she doesn’t know whether she’s going to breathe or drink. And she’s looking at everyone through an inch of glass. Like they all know exactly where the line is between them and her. She’s walking around in a fog. And she knows it’s because of Wolverine’s blood. She feels like she’s constantly on the verge of sleep. But she also knows she wouldn’t realize any of this without the blood. It looks like clarity, but doesn’t feel like it. Is this the trade-off? Because she doesn’t think she prefers it. Emma suggests she not go spreading that around.
What difference would it make? They all hate her anyway! she complains. They don’t all hate her, Emma decides and orders Pixie to come in.
Outside, Jubilee remarks he seems to be in charge of everything. Did Wolverine order that sunset the same time he booked Pixie? Megan replies she thinks it’s awesome that having Wolverine’s healing factor also means Jubilee can catch a few weak rays. Jubilee replies she feels like she just got Pixie sparkle romance packaged. What’s next? Moonlight cruise with optional poetry reading? Smiling, Pixie assures her Wolverine didn’t asks her to do this. Yes, he did, Jubilee replies. Pixie admits it, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t want to. Awesome, Jubilee replies and rolls her eyes. Awesome, Pixie agrees unsarcastically.
She should just face the facts and be with her own kind, Jubilee mutters. Pixie assures her mutants are her own kind. Jubilee points out she hasn’t had one minute to herself. They’re worried about her, Megan explains. They are afraid of her, Jubilee corrects her.
Pixie suggests she show them there’s nothing to be afraid of. Show her! She mock fights her. Jubilee tells her to stop it. Catch her first! Pixie replies and teleports a distance away. At super-speed, Jubilee is at her side, lifts a huge boulder and brings it down on Pixie, who teleports away again. She has to get out of here, Jubilee mutters.
Later, Jubilee sits at a San Francisco bar, nursing a drink of water. Can he buy her another drink? a man asks. She’s seventeen, does she look like she drinks alcohol? Jubilee asks, flashing her vampire fangs. Frightened, the man withdraws.
Jubilee remembers the first time she saw the X-Men. A gorgeous strawberry blonde sits down next to her. Does she like what she sees, whatever she’s daydreaming about? Oh sure, Jubilee replies. Being homeless and living in a mall. Turning mutant tricks for change. Good times, good times. Weren’t they? the woman asks.
Jubilee informs her that the guy wasn’t her type and neither is she. Is she sure about that? the woman remarks and, from a small vial, drops some blood into her drink. She knows what they are doing to Jubilee. What who’s doing to her? Jubilee asks.
Continuing the woman states that she knows Jubilee feels like she’s being held down by something she can’t name and she knows what Jubilee saw in the mirror. The world of the X-Men is a very big one and she gives them credit for embracing variation but they will put the breaks on deviation. Emma asked her if she wanted to go to college! Jubilee bursts out. That’s what she’s talking about, the stranger replies and smears a drop of blood on Jubilee’s lips. She asks her to come with her. She has something she wants to show her. Then she can decide for herself…
Later, at the port of Oakland. Rockslide asks Wolverine if he wasn’t supposed to look after her. Sniffing, he replies he was and is. Okay, Santo continues, because it would be really bad if…
They all know it would be really bad if, Wolverine snarls, pointing a claw at him. He doesn’t need him to point it out to him. He needs him to stop talking! Santo states he doesn’t want to interfere with his ability to track her down. He’s not, comes the reply. He’s interfering with Wolverine’s efforts not to kill him! He should never have let him come along.
Does he think this place has dogs? Santo asks. Why did he want to come along? Wolverine asks. He was worried about her, comes the reply. Wolverine replies he believes Rockslide is one of those guys that likes a project. So, he’s going to give him some advice and by that he means an order. Not this one, okay?
He sniffs and turns towards a container, announcing he has her. “Move it, Sanchez!” He’s done talking about his hormones. Stay back! he orders as he claws open the container. What’s that smell? Santo asks. Well it ain’t popcorn, Wolverine replies.
Inside, Jubilee crouches in a corner muttering she didn’t do it. She is surrounded by bloody corpses.
Wolverine grabs her as she protests. He takes away the pendant around her neck. Give that back! she orders. She gave it to Jubilee. Stop taking things away from her!
Wolverine tosses it to Rockslide and orders him to get rid of it. Santo crushes it. He knew this was a mistake, Wolverine announces and takes out a syringe and shoves it in her neck. It’s time to do it his way!


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Cursed part 2
Jubilee’s dream:
Jubilee is lying on a deckchair in the sun at a pool, just lazing. Is she warm enough? a voice coming out of nowhere asks. Mmh, she mutters. Is she thirsty? She agrees. It’s there, if she wants it. A cocktail glass with blood appears next to her.
reality:
She awakes from the dream with her head hurting. A flask with the sign “drink me” is next to her bed. Sighing, she drinks the blood and opens the window. Outside is a grey cityscape covered with snow. Where is she? Jubilee wonders.
Siberia, Wolverine tells her as he enters. Less than five hours of daylight and general overcast. He though she could use a break from all that sunshine. He sure as hell could.
What did she do to deserve this? she asks belligerently. And San Francisco’s not that sunny. She wants a list? he asks. And who said he was talking about the weather? How’s she feeling?
Same problem, different day, is Jubilee’s curt reply. Meaning? he asks. Meaning he still can’t really stand to be in the same room as her, she accuses him. That’s not true! Really? she asks and pointedly drinks some of his blood from the flask. She drops it in a spell of weakness.
What has he done to her? she slurs, then orders him to get his hands off her. Ignoring her orders, Wolverine carries her to bed and calls her an idiot. The X-Men are damn lucky there’s nothing worse to clean up than a weak attempt to frame her for murder. And she’s lucky he didn’t put a damn leash on her!
He thinks having to rely on a steady supply of his blood isn’t a leash? she snarls. They’re trying to help her, he replies, to grow up. She can’t, she’s a vampire! Bohoo, he replies unimpressed.
Jubilee holds her head, announcing it is capsizing. Take it easy, he tells her. Plasmapheresis. He shot her full of plasma for monkeys? she asks. No, souped-up healing factor. He shot her full of soup? Think of it as concentrated blood and shut the hell up, he recommends. It’ll take a while to work it out of her system.
She didn’t kill those people. she begins. He has to trust her. No, he doesn’t, he tells her, and she makes it hard for him to even want to. A hundred dead guys in a shipping container isn’t her on a blood sucking bender; it’s human trafficking and a matter for the authorities. Then shouldn’t it have been fourteen year old girls from the Ukraine? she asks. On balance, it’s more men than women, he explains. But making cement and growing vegetables isn’t illegal yet. That doesn’t make it right! she snarls. He didn’t say so and even if he did who died and left her their moral compass?
She didn’t do it, Jubilee repeats. He knows but it would help if she remembered how she ended up in that shipping yard in the first place. Well, she can’t. He throws her a bag with some clothes and a phone. He orders her to turn it on. Does anyone know they are here? she asks. The people who need to know… know. He’ll see her downstairs.
Sometime later Jubilee, dressed in a black bodysuit, her ubiquitous yellow coat and yellow shades, walks into the lobby. Her skin hurts. Except it doesn’t. When the receptionist sees her, he whips out a huge crucifix. Well, she guesses room service is probably out of question, she figures.
Outside, Wolverine is expecting her on a motorbike. As they ride somewhere, Jubilee remarks the guy in there treated as something out of a foreign remake of The Exorcist. He’s superstitious but needs the cash. Forget him, Wolverine recommends, then asks her to keep the vampire hijinks down to a dull roar.  Her heart beats. Except it doesn’t.
They end up somewhere in the midst of nowhere. Is this some stupid X-Men version of “Outward Bound?” she demands. She bets he got his wilderness first responder badge before he could walk or talk. He retorts that she keeps talking about what she can’t do. He wants to know what she can. She’s not in the mood, she replies. Isn’t there something else he would like to do?
Dragging her by the shoulder, he snarls what he’d like to do is tear her apart! She’d like to see him try! Then he’ll take her eyes out first and give them ringside seats! She’s not going to fight him, she announces. They’ll see, he retorts and hits her across the chest. She flies backward. When she tries to get up, he kicks her in the face. Get up! he orders. She asks for one second. Fine, one, he begins.
Jubilee hits him hard. She can count! she shouts. Stop doing everything for her! She somersaults and kicks him with both feet into the chest. Wolverine unsheathes one claw.
Instead of fighting him up close, she holds up his motor bike. This is heavier than she thought, she announces mockingly. She thinks she’s gonna drop it on his head. “Don’t! he tells her. Why not? she asks.  Because he doesn’t want to walk back! he seethes. Not her problem, she announces and drops it.
Much later, Jubilee is sitting in the hotel bar. He enters and pours himself a drink. Is he mad at her? she asks. Has she had something to drink? he asks before telling her he is not mad. She has and wouldn’t blame him if he were. He remarks she seems less testy and uses his claw to cut through the legs of the stool she sits on. Very mature, she mocks as she lands on the ground. She’s sorry his tough love experiment didn’t work and if that was their only reason for being here, can they go home now?
Home? he asks. Back, she corrects herself. It’s not the only reason. S.S.C.C. he replies. Serial shipping container codes. It identified the box and its origin. Her box came from around here.
Why does he even know that? she wonders. He did a job for Scott once, he replies. You work for the X-Men long enough and you learn all kinds of things. Like Emma doesn’t like it when you stand on the back of her cape. Nightcrawler’s two-fingered poker technique could be very distracting. And there is actually a temperature below which it is not safe to put your tongue on Colossus. Her turn.
She muses. She can do more handsprings than the Black Widow. He congratulates her. She thanks him, then stresses she means it.
They’ve got company, he remarks. The owners silently put a bottle of vodka in front of Logan, who thanks them sarcastically. He thinks that stuff is giving him a brain tumor.
Do they fight? the owner asks. Logan explains that they have nothing to worry about. They are done fighting. He means, do they fight other things, the woman clarifies. Undead things. They arrived a month ago. A building full of them. Shipped in to do the devil’s work. The mines are shut, the good men are gone and now they are all up here. They are what they have been left with.
Who brought them? Logan asks. A very bad woman, he replies. She paid well but she was very bad. She did not tell them her business but they saw her in the night. They are killing the animals. They are alone. They will be next.
What woman? Jubilee wonders to correct herself. What animals? Logan promises to have a look. He suggests Jubilee get her skates on and they go kill something. Is than an invitation, grandpa? she asks as she drags him up. Unless she’d rather stay here and tell ghost stories, he replies. But there is one condition. When he gets back, he wants the hot water fixed, he tells the owner.
Later, they look at the building in question. Jubilee breaks a lock to enter. Moments later, she is attacked by a crowd of zombie-like beings which turn out to be little more than a workout for her. Eventually, Jubilee is the only one left standing. Feels pretty good, doesn’t it? Wolverine asks. He got any of Dr. Rao’s monkey soup left? she asks.
Later, Jubilee calls out Logan’s name, first softly then a little more loudly. Wolverine awakes and asks her to sleep it off, please. He then notes that she really smells like vampire; she might need topping up. More weakly this time, Hubilee mutters that she’s sorry. She should have told him. Apparently weak and being dragged by the collar by the red-haired vampire woman, who tells Wolverine with a raised eyebrow and a grin not to get dressed on her account…


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
untitled
Still holding the bedraggled Jubilee, the red-haired vampire woman, tells Logan she bets she knows what he is thinking. Growling, he jumps at her, claws extended, only to hit the wall head first, the vampire being gone already. Angrily, he mutters about their superspeed, then follows their trace until he finds the room where she sits on a couch Jubilee propped against her.
Logan threatens they can keep doing this all night. He’ll still kill her in the end. Kill her too! Jubilee says weakly. Why stop with the woman? He can’t keep doing this. She can’t keep doing this! Weakly, she gets up. He let her fight, feel like she is on fire and then dopes her up with his healing factor. And it makes her crash so hard, she can’t see straight. She’s at everybody’s mercy. See what he‘s done to her?
It’s no way to live, the redhead adds in mock disappointment. Angrily, Logan points out the X-Men are helping Jubilee. It’s the vampires that made her that way. How can he talk to her like that and not see that he’s talking to her too? Jubilee asks. She’s nothing like Jubilee! he insists. She is not the same!
She’s not human. She’s not mutant. She’s a vampire! Jubilee shouts. She is exactly the same! When she left Utopia, the woman found her. She can help her. It’s either both of them or none at all. And he knows it.
Not even close, he replies. The redhead takes a trinket she’s been playing with and throws it at Jubilee, who disappears.
Wolverine slices off the vampire arm holding the ring and pegs her to the ground, asking what she did to Jubilee. She wouldn’t do that if she were him, she warns. After making some fun of him, she admits she doesn’t know where Jubilee has gone but, if he dissects her, he will never find out how to get Jubilee back. She’s got Jubilee. What else does she want?
Accusing him of being dense, the vampire points out she needs him. He already has a job, he snarls, and didn’t come around halfway the planet to become her gun for hire. Of course, he did, she replies. She wanted to transact their business back in Oakland, but was detained. She wants him to retrieve a package for her. When he gets it, he’ll have what he needs to locate Jubilee. Simple. She’d do it herself, but radiation is radiation, sunlight or otherwise, and she is vampire. With his healing factor, he should be alright, if he is quick about it. She did think that herding all those others down there, at least one would survive… What others? he asks.
Back on Utopia, Rockslide, Pixie and Armor watch Jeopardy. What is the Death Star? Rockslide guesses. What is Canada? Pixie offers. What is the White House? Armor adds bored, giving the correct answer. Isn’t there anything else on? she sighs. Pixie replies she cannot find the remote, so they can’t change the channel…
What is the Fantastic Four? What is the Empire? Rockslide suggests. What is Japan? Armor adds annoyed. Did Pixie ever think of getting up and going to the TV? Her grandma used to do that, Pixie replies.
Don’t everybody get up at once, Rockslide announces as he gets up. Pixie muses Jubilee could use her superspeed to help out if she were here. Now that is a great reason to have a vampire around, Armor agrees sarcastically.
As Rockslide touches the TV, he sees a familiar mark on his hand, reminding him of the thing Jubilee had around her neck which he crushed. He tells the girls he has to check on something…
Deep under the Chernobyl exclusion zone:
After his discussion with the redhead vampire, Wolverine lets himself down. He checks the portable Geiger counter – lethal amounts of radiation but has no choice but to follow Jubilee’s scent.  He passes dozens of corpses…
Rockslide has reached the port of Oakland and enters a dry-cleaning shop. An unimpressed clerk informs him the washrooms are for customers only. She rattles down a list of excuses, not allowing him to formulate his question, until impatiently he explains he was here a couple of days ago but this was a container storage yard. She retorts they’ve been here more than fifty years before asking who does the X-Men’s laundry. She can give a bulk deal.
Meanwhile, a swearing Jubilee is falling until she finally lands. She calls Wolverine on his cell phone. Where the hell is she? he demands. No idea, and stop yelling at her! she snaps. She is in a kind of children’s room. When she cannot tell him anything important, he hangs up.
Wolverine turns around to see an elderly man, arms akimbo, stand there. So, she finally found a bagman, the stranger observes. When he opens his arms, it shows his hands are missing. He’s just here to do a job, Wolverine announces. The other man mocks he probably doesn’t know what it really is. Wolverine suggests he enlighten him on their way out, and grabs his arm. He isn’t going anywhere, the stranger replies. He’s found a nice radiation-free sinkhole and has got most of his arms to keep him warm. He can leave anytime he wants. He’s got all the know-how but he is safe here. He tells Logan to get lost.
Safe from what? Logan asks. Is he a prisoner or a survivor? Neither is the reply. Wolverine continues. Is he protecting something for her? Not the way he thinks. The man asks him to let go. Wolverine threatens to do the opposite unless he makes sense.
He’s an accountant, the man explains. It’s his job to keep the debts to his boss. And he’s gotta tell him, it’s a fulltime job. The dame’s in it up to her eyeballs. Debt to who? Wolverine asks. The man asks what does he care. What has she got on him? He’s trying to locate a friend of his. The stranger guesses. One minute she’s there, the next she’s gone. Unusual accessory involved. His friend has been impounded. Submitted as payment on a debt. He will never get her back.
They’ll see, is the reply, but the two of them and the parcel are leaving. One way or the other. Then she wins, the vampire points out. He can handle her, Wolverine claims. Her, sure, but they are both under contract to the same employer. And that is a fight he won’t win.
If he is just the record keeper, why is he so important? Logan asks. Where he comes from, the record is as good as the real thing, he’s told. There’s no copy. Erase him, erase the obligation. Wolverine refuses to leave! He begins to grin. He’s glad Wolverine is here, because he is getting a little tired of chewing on his own arm…
In the laundry, the woman tries to throw Rockslide out. He stands his ground, wanting answers. So stop giving him the evil eyeball! Only a gypsy can give good evil eyeball, and she is not a gypsy! she replies and transforms into a dragon. And not a little old lady either, Rockslide intelligently states.
Jubilee stands in front of a door and opens it to enter a beautiful inside garden. Dryly, she figures she is either in the Savage Land or an episode of Space: 1999. She walks and, finding a darkened window, hears snatches of a conversation: Someone warning someone else away.
The vampire warns Wolverine to stay away and leave it. Instead, he slices off the vampire’s head and opens the box with his claws. Gold medallions like the pendant Jubilee got are inside. He hears Jubilee’s voice. He tells her to stay put.
Elsewhere, Rockslide is attacked by the dragon.
Logan tells Jubes to stay put. Jubilee opens the darkened door and, peering outside, remarks that’s not going to work. She stares into a chaotic space with all kinds of objects from dinosaurs to rockets floating around.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
untitled
While able to communicate with Wolverine, who is in Siberia, Jubilee is somewhere else altogether, apparently another dimension stuffed full of all kinds of objects floating in space. Logan informs her that some jerk told him she’d been impounded and is being held in hock. What did he say? She inquires. He sliced his head off. Awesome, she sighs. Can he shut up for a second?
She jumps into the chaos and holds onto a ship’s antenna. She wonders aloud how she can hear him. If that is a consequence of her having to drink his blood, he is dead meat, she warns. He tells her he thinks he opened a direct line, as he sits in front of the many floating necklaces like the one Jubilee still has. That thing transported her and, the closer he stays to the pile of them he has here, the louder he hears her. That’s mystical objects for you, she deadpans, they like to stick together.
She lands on the ship. He asks what’s going on. Jubilee announces she is trying to find the edge of wherever she is. Wow, pyramids! She is in Egypt? he asks. Less like Egypt and more like that video game where you run around and roll stuff up. What’s it called? She wishes Rockslide was here. She bets he’d know. She jumps onto the head of a statue. When he tells her to be careful she reminds him she is a vampire, so stop babying her!
Hanging onto the bottom of the statue, she sees someone. She wants to go there despite Logan’s protests. What she sees is the entrance to Hotel Baltimore with a white-haired man standing next to it. Even hell’s got a front door, she announces. She’ll race him to it.
Port of Oakland:
Rockslide is thrown out of the dry cleaner’s and chased by a dragon. Cut it out! He shouts as the dragon breathes fire at him. He’s trying to do the right thing here – he doesn’t want to hurt it! It’s probably like endangered or something!
As he holds out his hand, the dragon notices the symbol on it and takes his hand. Why didn’t he say so in the first place? It apologizes profusely and asks him to come inside. He should have said he is here on business. Rockslide repeats that he came here a couple of days ago and got this thing on his hand, and now it’s like part of his hand and he wonders if he should be worried.
The dragon admonishes him. She goes through her things, muttering about the boss. May she see his hand again? She takes something out of a box, the other half of his claim check. Does he have sun glasses? Some folks prefer it. The two halves of the amulet join.
Elsewhere, Jubilee asks the man what he wants. What does she want? he replies belligerently. She asked first, Jubilee retorts. They are lenders and deal in commodities, property, objects of great value, the rare, the curious. Why is she here? He asks. Because she is rare and also curious. Who are they? Who sent her? he demands. Suddenly, a dragon claw impales him.
The dragon bursts through the doorway, asking who has entered his domain without his permission. Falling down, Jubilee calls for Logan and orders him to hurry up. She lands on one of the floating souvenirs, a jumbo jet.
Elsewhere, Logan looks at the corpse, recalling the man told him he could leave any time he wanted. That it was all in his noggin. He searches the corpse while the dragon chases Jubilee.
Noggin, Logan realizes and looks at the head. Zombie-accountants. It’s all about the brain with those guys. He reaches into his mouth and pulls out a glowing ring. The glow surrounds him and he disappears.
Jubilee is thrown against a train. Look out! somebody shouts and Rockslide lands on her. He apologizes profusely and begs her not to hate him. Actually, though, she is relieved to see him. He’s here to rescue her, right? She doesn’t need to, he begins. It’s fine, she assures him. She’d like him to. Please get in on the action. He likes action. As the dragon is about to attack, he admits that’s too much action. She’s revoking his teenage boy card, Jubilee criticizes.
He hits the dragon and she slides off the train (which has morphed into a plane). Wolverine grabs her arm and pulls her up. She admits she’ feeling a little goofy. He didn’t happen to bring any… The only Wolverine blood is still in the original packaging, he tells her, but she can-- She’s okay for now, she claims and hushes him. The let’s go have some fun, he replies.
Calling the dragon “Thesaurus Rex,” Jubilee tosses a train carriage at him. See what she did there? she tells Wolverine. She added injury to insult. He tells her to keep together. She ignores him and tells him she’ll take right; he can take the left and Rockslide can come from behind. Confused, he asks about Rockslide, then orders the boy to get them moving. What does she think she’s doing? Rockslide wonders.
“Come and get me, I’m delicious,” Jubilee lures the dragon, who angrily calls her “vermin.” His property has been defiled and must be cleansed!
Jubilee flees from his fire breath. She stumbles and falls. When the wall of flame hits her, nothing is left. Wolverine cries NO! and wildly attacks the dragon.
However, the smoke coalesces, turning back into Jubilee. Die! the dragon screams and breathes fire at Wolverine. Not if she can help it, Jubilee decides and shoves a giant spear through the dragon’s skull, killing it.
Later, Emma Frost has joined them in Northern Siberia and is told the story. Clearly she is not all right, Emma summarizes Jubilee’s state. Maybe, but she’s different, Logan insists. When she was shoving that spike though the gatekeeper’s head, she was making a decision, not just reacting. Finally.
The X-Men need her making good decisions, Emma stresses. Logan tells her to get over herself. Jubilee got them back here. He axed the accountant but Jubilee took out the whole damn circus. He doesn’t guess Oakland ever busted the vampire bimbo who left those migrant workers to die in crates? Last she heard, the paper trail went cold at the border to some country that wasn’t even a country six months ago.
Well, the lady’s still out, Logan remarks. Emma tells him to collect Jubilee. He informs her she isn’t here.
Emma knows Jubilee decorporalized. She needs to come in so they can find out how and why. Is it vampire or Logan’s blood or the fact she was once a mutant or if she is just special? They’ve seen it before, Logan scoffs. Claw Sect can do it. After centuries of training, Emma points out. She’s had training, he remarks, and was headed for oblivion. It was the vampire version of a hundred-pound woman lifting a bus off a baby. It was a fluke.
Angrily, Emma tells him this is serious. Jubilee is always going to be their responsibility. They need to find her and bring her in. So she can submit herself to further testing? he asks. She calls him a jerk. He knows exactly where she is, doesn’t he? And she’s loaded with his healing factor, so there isn’t anything to worry about? He agrees.
Jubilee and Rockslide sit at the Golden Gate Bridge. Rockslide reminds her that Wolverine said they had twenty four hours to get their asses back to headquarters before full daylight or they’d be grounded. He promised. She promised too, she laughs. And he’s not her dad. He sure acts like it, Rockslide replies. Was that awkward? He acts like everyone’s dad. Not just hers, not that she needs a dad. Jubes orders him to stop talking. He’s too old for her.
They watch the sunrise. Rockslide points out if she really likes Wolverine and now she is immortal…. She was joking. Okay, that was awkward, he admits. Does he know what the shortest amount of time is? It’s the Planck time and the longest is the age of the entire universe. So which one is she? She guesses somewhere in between. She decides it’s time to go home.


[Assistant]
I’m Wolverine
“I’m Wolverine. I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.”
Climbing up a mountainside in the Canadian Rockies, this is home to Wolverine. The land is as stark and elemental as his soul. He’s here on business. To hunt and kill. Like he said, what he does best. Once he reaches the top of the mountain, he thinks back that he picked up the trail yesterday and just before dawn, found the latest examples of his handiwork. Two Mounties, or what was left of them anyway. They were good men. Experienced, well armed, careful. They never had a chance.
At that point, Wolverine notices that the wind has shifted during his climb. His prey knows he’s coming and he’s confused, probably a little scared. He’s not used to being challenged on his own turf. Wolverine figures that he’ll wait for him to make the first move. If he walks by, he’ll charge out after him. He doesn’t want that, there’s too much risk of him escaping again. He may be mad, but he isn’t stupid.
Wolverine gets to the opening of the cave and realizes that there’re no other exits and these signs are hours old. His prey is most likely sleeping off his last meal. Wolverine takes the time to look, listen, smell and wait. Unfortunately he can’t pinpoint him the caves too deep with too many branch passages. It’s perfect for an ambush. It’s better if he lets him come to him. Just then, he hears a roar - a challenge. Wolverine smiles as it won’t be long now.
It doesn’t take long at all, as he looks up to see yellow eyes peering at him through the darkness. He now sees his prey - a big and mean grizzly bear. There’s no more fearsome or deadly creature on Earth, save for Wolverine. The bear’s claws gleam in the half-light but so do his. They’re forged of pure adamantium. The strongest metal known. Unbreakable and razor-sharp, they cut through steel like paper. His skeleton is laced with the same stuff, which means it can withstand virtually any amount of punishment. It’s an asset in his line of work. By birth, he’s a mutant, by profession for a time he was a secret agent. Now by choice, he’s a super hero, one of the uncanny X-Men.
Wolverine pops his claws and lops one of the bear’s arms off at the elbow. It is a crippling blow, mortally wounding him. Wolverine wants this over quickly but dying is a long way from being dead. The bear howls. It’s more rage than pain. It lunges at Wolverine. Wolverine hits him again, this time slashing the bear in the stomach. The bear doesn’t seem to realize how badly he is hurt. Because of that he’s becoming a true berserker, his fury giving him a terrible, almost irresistible power and endurance. Wolverine wishes there was another way, but there isn’t. He leaps onto the bear and drives his claws into the bear’s neck, killing him instantly.
Once he is dead, Wolverine notices there is an arrow in his back. It has an illegal barbed point that is coated with poison. The dosage didn’t kill, though. Instead, it drove the bear insane. The hunter could have kept after him, finishing him off. But the creep couldn’t be bothered. He figured his gunk would do the job for him. He was wrong. Seven men, three women, and five kids paid the price for his stupidity. He as much as murdered him. Now’s the time to balance the books.
Some time later, Wolverine arrives at Josie’s bar ‘n’ grill in the town of Coalspur, fifty-seven miles away in a straight line from the bear’s den. He followed the hunter the same way he did the bear: by scent. There was a residue left on the arrow. He back-trailed the bear to where he’d been shot and then followed the hunter from there. It wasn’t easy, even for his enhanced senses. He’s been on the road for days but the grief is worth it, he’s struck pay dirt.
Wolverine approaches a man at the bar and places his hand on his shoulder. The hunter asks Wolverine what he wants. Wolverine informs him that they’re going to have a talk, the hunter, Wolverine and the Mounties about a bear he shot a fortnight ago. The hunter, seemingly not to be bothered, indicates that he doesn’t think Wolverine will be talking to anybody, especially after he’s finished stomping his face. He then smacks Wolverine in the face with his beer glass, knocking him to the ground. As Wolverine pulls himself up, he tells the guy that he was hoping he would do something like that. Even though the bear lasted longer, he let this guy live.
Mariko Yashida is the daughter of one of the noblest, richest, most powerful families in Japan. She can trace her lineage back almost 2,000 years. Wolverine knows his father, that’s as far as it goes. From the moment they met, he lover her and she loved him. Isn’t like a crock??? In Canada, Wolverine gave his deposition and saw the hunter bound over for trial before heading stateside to the X-Men’s secret headquarters near New York. Once there, he found a pile of mail waiting for him - all of the letters he had sent Mariko were returned unopened. He phoned her embassy and they said she’d been summoned back to Japan weeks ago. He called her home and they hung up on him - bad move. Japan airlines 007 leaves Kennedy airport the following morning for Anchorage, Alaska, and Tokyo. He’s on it.
Once in Japan, Logan plans on handling this on his own. The local spooks have other ideas. He got nailed at immigration by Asano Kimura, one of their top people and a friend of Wolverine’s. Back then, they ran more than their share of dirty missions together before he quit the trade. They owe each other their lives more than a couple of times over.
In a lavish apartment Asano informs Logan that his presence in Tokyo is making a number of very august personages very nervous and as always his reputation precedes him. Logan responds that that is tough. He calls again to try to reach Mariko. Once he gets nowhere, he tells Asano that he is being stonewalled. Asano indicates that of course he is. While Logan is more truly Japanese than any westerner he has ever known, even he doubt that Logan can really understand Mariko’s actions. He continues that, if Logan remembers, she is heir to traditions of duty and loyalty that are as old as the islands.
Logan asks if she is in trouble. Asano replies that if she is, she is beyond his help. To that, Logan responds - bull. Asano then informs Logan that Mariko is married. Asano tells Logan about what happened. Mariko’s father disappeared years ago during her childhood and was believed dead. He recently surfaced and reclaimed his rightful place as head of her family and clan. Evidently, he incurred some great obligation, the payment of which was Mariko’s hand in marriage. Logan angrily breaks a lamp with his fist and asks if she agreed just like that. Besides, she loves him.
Asano responds that they speak of giri, of obligation, duty, honor. To deny that would mean denying her essential self. She would rather die. Logan responds that he can’t live without her. Asano replies that he must learn that she is lost to him. Undeterred, Logan informs him that he has to see her. Asano asks him why? To hurt her all the more? She will answer neither his letters or his telephone calls. He recommends Logan to respect her silence and leave her be. If she feels for him as he says she does, then this marriage has broken her heart too. Confronting her will only make things worse.
Logan, having none of this, changes into his brown and tan costume. What Asano said is maybe the case, but it’s something he has to do. Asano informs Logan that he no longer has official status or special privileges as agent or X-Man. Should he step outside the law, he cannot help him. He may be forced to hunt him down. Storming out of the apartment, Logan informs him that he’s welcome to try and he will be seeing him around.
The Yashida ancestral stronghold stands in the hills overlooking the port city of Agarashima, in Miyago Prefecture, roughly 300 clicks up the road from Tokyo. Wolverine arrives there by midnight. Once there, he encounters some dogs. They are new and don’t know his scent. They’re killers, but so is he. They lock eyes and wills, communicating on levels far more comprehensive and subtle than speech. They’re mean but they aren’t stupid. They let him pass. Which is good, Wolverine doesn’t have the stomach for gutting animals. People, though, is another matter. As Wolverine scales the wall, he thinks to himself that the night is too quiet, too still. He doesn’t like it. As he enters the house, he thinks of the bear’s den. The settings have a lot in common. He looks for a trap but no luck. The place is clean. That only makes him more wary.
In the garden, beneath a giant statue of Buddha, Wolverine finds Mariko. He calls out to her and Mariko responds that he has come at last but it is too late. Wolverine informs her that he came as soon as he heard and calls her Mariko-chan. Mariko informs him that he is not to call her by that, he has no right. She then asks whey he is there. She hoped and prayed never to see him again. Wolverine tells her that she owes him an explanation. Mariko responds that she is married and what was once between them is no more. Wolverine tells her that he won’t accept that. Mariko responds that he must. Like her, he has no choice.
Wolverine tells her to at least turn around and face him. She can at least have the courage to face him. Mariko turns around and the left side of her face is bruised and battered. She asks Wolverine if he is satisfied now. She then tells him to go before he shames her any further. When Wolverine asks who did this, the answer he gets is that it is none of his concern. Hearing this, Wolverine starts to go into a rage, the blood is boiling from within him. He only starts to calm down a little when Mariko touches his hand. Wolverine asks Mariko to come with him. The response he gets is that she cannot. He continues that any court in the land will grant her a divorce. Mariko responds that she will not ask for one. Wolverine tells her that he loves her. Mariko indicates that she loves him but she is also bound by far more important obligations.
Mariko leads Wolverine into a room where she shows him some swords. She informs him that these blades were crafted by the supreme sword smith, Masamune, and are as keen, as strong, as deadly today as when he forged them over 800 years ago. They are the soul of her family. All that they were and are yet to be are represented by those two swords. They are a tradition of duty and honor. Her commitment to him was made when she was free. He father’s return changed that. Wolverine asks her if she is his property, to be used in payment of a debt? He then tells her that she is a human being!!! Mariko agrees but says that if her father in honor gave his solemn word, then she as his daughter am honor-bound to not forswear him. She continues that if Wolverine cannot comprehend and accept that, he does not truly know her at all. Or Nippon.
As she is talking, Wolverine hears footsteps and a scent he’s never smelt before tonight yet it is one he recognizes instantly. It clings to Mariko, tainting the jasmine that he loves. It is a man, her husband. The man walks into the room to find Wolverine and Mariko talking. He angrily asks what Mariko what she is doing there!?! She was told to await for him in their apartment. If she is determined to defy him, she leaves him no choice but to continue to chastise her until she learns, once and for all, her proper place. With that, Wolverine grabs the man by the throat and lifts him into the air. On the other hand, he pops his claws. He then informs this “man” that he has just signed his death warrant!!! <>
Mariko calls out to him to stop!!!! She tells him that, for the love he bears her, he should not harm him. Wolverine responds that he deserves it and, if he doesn’t put a stop to it, he’ll keep on doing it. Mariko indicates that that is his right. With that, Wolverine drops the man and walks away. As he does, he thinks to himself that he shouldn’t have listened but Mariko knows he can deny her nothing. Not even the life of a man he hates.
There’s a 10 a.m. JAL flight out of Narita for New York and he intends to be on it. At that very moment, he gets struck with a bunch of throwing stars. The shuriken were poisoned, designed to kill him. What makes him a mutant is his body’s ability to heal virtually any wound. To counter-act any disease. It’s a nifty talent, especially in his line of work, and it’s saved him more than once. Even so, when he finally wakes he is hurting like blazes. The stuff they used was potent; he barely made it.
He wakes to see a man sitting on a stage. On one side, Mariko. The other, her husband. In front of them are two sumo wrestler bodyguards. In Japanese, the man greets Logan and indicates that he is pleased to meet him. Wolverine responds in Japanese that he knows who he is. He is Lord Shingen. He is lord of the manor, lord of clan Yashida, and Mariko’s father.
In English, Shingen responds to Wolverine that his Japanese is as flawless as his English and he also knows who and what he is. He continues by saying that Wolverine’s tone is rude and his manner is disrespectful. Wolverine agrees that it is. Wolverine thinks to himself that the poison's after effects have scrambled his senses. All he’s sure about is of what he can see. The two sumos are no problem but what worries him is who is waiting outside. That and he can’t start anything with Mariko present; it is too risky. She could get hurt. He’ll have to stall, time is on his side. Until it runs out. Shingen continues that Wolverine aspires to his daughter’s hand but his arrogance is beyond belief. Their family is as old as the emperor’s with as legitimate to claim a throne. However, he forgets they live in an age, in a nation where such precepts have become as ephemeral as the morning dew.
As Shingen unsheathes one of the swords, Mariko begs of him to stop. Shingen tells her to be silent and tosses a sword to Wolverine. He tells him that she thinks the world of him. He then wants to see him prove it by facing an old man in single combat. Wolverine rises to catch the sword tossed to him. He recognizes it as a bokan, a wooden practice sword. He asks Shingen why not the real thing? Shingen replies that Wolverine is not worthy of a true sword.
As Wolverine and Shingen face off, Wolverine is impressed by his grace. It belies his age. He’s in perfect condition, while Wolverine is not. He figures that makes them even. It’s been years since he has held a sword. He was good, but Shingen is an expert. With every thrust of Wolverine’s sword, Shingen is able to block it easily. That and he cheats with kicks to Wolverine’s gut. So much for honor. Wolverine rolls with the kick, cursing the poison for slowing down his reflexes. He’s vulnerable for a whole three seconds, which is plenty of time for Shingen to connect the nerve clusters on Wolverine’s neck with his sword.
As Shingen continues to connect with the crucial pressure points, where a blow can either instantly paralyze someone or kill them. Wolverine decides that it’s too late to figure out which of them Shingen is going for. At that point, Wolverine surprises him. Either one of those blows would have finished an ordinary man. Only thing is he’s not ordinary. He tosses away his sword and pops his claws. He hears Mariko gasp and sees Shingen smile. He’s played directly into his hands. Mariko saw the duel, without understanding what his strikes were doing to him. Shingen challenged him to mock “friendly” combat. She thought his attacks were meant to humiliate him. Now when he appears to be losing, he turns the fight into the real thing. He couldn’t dishonor himself more in her eyes if he tried.
Shingen attacks but Wolverine’s heart and head aren’t into this fight. All Wolverine does is cut cloth, and not flesh. Shingen is able to connect with Wolverine’s spine, nearly snapping it. Even though it doesn’t hurt much, it still makes his legs go numb. Shingen follows up with a tsuki strike to the throat, one that connects straight into the windpipe. Wolverine tries to breath, but spits up blood instead. From there things get worse. Shingen is able to connect with hack after hack against Wolverine’s face. Even when Wolverine is able to graze Shingen’s forehead with his claws, it’s obvious to all concerned that the outcome is never in doubt. Shingen is able to bounce back with a jab to Wolverine’s gut and then another to his throat, putting him down on the ground. Once there, Shingen leaps high into the air and brings his foot down directly on Wolverine’s face.
Lying there battered and beaten, struggling to hold off oblivion, Wolverine hears Shingen talking with Mariko. “Behold daughter” he begins. “The ’man’ you profess to love, except that he is no man at all, but an animal cast in a semblance of human form.” He continues. “Gaze upon him, witness his true nature, his true self. Here is the thing to which you have given your heart. Answer me truthfully - is he worthy of such a prize?” Mariko’s answer is no.
When he awakes, Wolverine is in Tokyo in an alley off the Ginza. He can still see her face, the sorrow in her eyes, her voice, as he condemned him. He didn’t know it was possible to feel such shame, to feel so sick in the heart. He’s lost inside, his soul, all that he thought he was, is, and ever will be - shattered, cast to the winds. Compared to this, death is a mercy. From his stupor, Wolverine hears some local thugs speaking in Japanese. They are condemning him for being a foreigner. Possibly he had a bit too much to drink. Either way, this is their country and they prefer to keep it neat and clean - pure! They don’t want it spoiled with filth.
Wolverine meekly responds that he doesn’t want any trouble. The response he gets is not a good one, they do want trouble. As the thugs lift up their knives, clubs, and pipes, they suddenly drop them. They are dead instantly, without a sound. It was a professional job. Wolverine assumes it was Asano. He’s wrong. It’s a woman and she is strong. That’s a good thing because if she lets go, he’ll drop in a heap. His body is a lump of clay. Nothing works. He’s helpless and she knows it. That seems to be turning her on. This strange lady lifts Wolverine up and informs him that he is now hers, now and forever!


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Debts and Obligations
From his slumber, Wolverine hears someone telling him to wake up, wake up. It’s a woman’s voice and it’s familiar but he can’t quite place it. He wakes slowly, a sure sign that he is hurting. Not knowing where he is or what happened to him. The woman sounds frantic, terrified. Once he finally opens his eyes, he can see why. They are surrounded by ninjas with swords. Their intentions are obvious.
Wolverine decides to treat them accordingly by bull rushing through the lot and smashing them through the second story window of the building they are in. The only trouble is, they didn’t come alone. On the other building rooftops are a number of other ninjas. Some equipped with swords, others equipped with bows and arrows. Hanging outside the window, Wolverine and the woman are being barraged by hundreds of arrows. Wolverine quips to her that she sure knows how to pick her enemies and then proceeds to ask her who they are. The answer he gets is that they are the Hand and they are professional assassins. Wolverine responds that he thinks that he could have guessed that part. He then asks her if they have met. The woman introduces herself as Yukio, and Wolverine owes her his life. To that, Wolverine responds that if that is the case, she better hold on. This is where he returns the compliment.
At that very instance, Wolverine leaps out of the window with Yukio in tow. As he moves, adrenaline pumps through his system and his skull finally kicks into gear. He recognizes the city he is in as being Tokyo. He’d come there looking for the woman he loved - Mariko Yashida. He found her married to another man. For his troubles, he was nearly beaten to death by her father, Shingen. Shingen meant to kill him be hadn’t reckoned with his body’s mutant ability to heal itself. Thanks to that, Wolverine can survive pretty much injury. He also has enhanced physical senses. He’s fast strong, and mean - hell on wheels. Some people are never satisfied. They love to tinker to improve on nature. In his case, some bright boys decided to lace his skeleton with adamantium making his bones virtually unbreakable. Punching him is like hitting solid steel. Likewise, the other way around. This all serves him well as he uses all of these enhancements to take out the ninjas. He takes out one of them with a solid shot to the gut. He barely misses being kicked by another until he moves out of the way at the last second and then responds with a boot to the base of his attackers neck.
In the melee, Wolverine and Yukio become separated. A bunch of assassins converge on her. One of them slices her left arm with his sword and draws blood. Wolverine notices that she doesn’t cry out; she’s tough. He likes that. Even still, he recognizes that she’s in trouble. She goes down. Her left arm is useless, as the Hand moves in for the kill. He then remembers one other thing. In addition to his adamantium bones, he also has claws. They’re retractable and forged of adamantium. They cut armor plate as easily as rice paper. He also knows how to use them. He leaps towards where Yukio is and hits the ninjas. As he does, they tumble off the rooftop, exactly how he wanted. He makes sure that he lands on top. He figures the rest of them will come running to save their buddies. He’s right as more ninjas converge on Wolverine!!
Yukio is able to hide behind a building to watch the brawl. She expected only a few assassins, not an entire cadre. She also knows that the Hand is comprised of the finest killers on Earth, each the equal of a dozen ordinary men. She doesn’t think Wolverine stands a chance. She then notices some of the ninjas fall not that far from where she is. Up ahead, she sees Wolverine, claws extended, standing on a pile of dead ninjas, triumphant! Wolverine thinks to himself that the ninjas were good, but he’s the best. When he was an agent for Canadian intelligence, scraps like this came with the territory. With a smile coming across his face, he forgot how much he missed them. He took a few heavy hits, but nothing he can’t handle.
As he looks around for Yukio, he finds her. She looks fine, real fine. Sirens and screeching tires herald the arrival of Tokyo’s finest. Wolverine hears them coming long before they arrive and figures that it would be better for all concerned if Yukio and him weren’t around to greet him. Cops and him don’t get along. They can’t abide scrappers and he hates cages. Besides, he has questions for the lady so he gathers her up and scoots away.
Later that evening in his apartment, Wolverine is lying on a couch with Yukio kneeling next to him. She goes to check his dressings, but Wolverine indicates to her that there is no need to do so. Yukio can’t believe it until she sees his wounds. They have closed, now they are just scars. As Wolverine lights up a cigarette, he informs her that he heals fast. Yukio responds that is no answer, to which Wolverine responds that it’s the truth. Yukio retorts that is a useful talent for a warrior especially when combined with unbreakable bones and those magnificent claws. She asks how she could acquire them for she would give her soul to be like him!
Wolverine responds that he’s one of a kind, besides what would she want them for anyway? Yukio answers so that she could defend herself and slay her enemies. Wolverine asks if she means the Hand. Yukio answers yes, and the butcher who sent them. Wolverine asks her what all of this is about. Yukio explains that their master is a crime lord of awesome power and insatiable ambition. He desires to expand his influence from crime to politics. He believes his ultimate goal is to rule Nihon, to become the power behind the throne. She adds that she fears him. Wolverine puts his hand on her shoulder and lets her know that there is no need to worry. As long as he’s around, she’s safe.
Yukio spins around with one of her blades and shoots back that she can defend herself. Wolverine tells her to be careful with that and grabs her wrist, and without meaning to, hurts her. He notices that she doesn’t wince, only half-smiles like he has passed some test. He also notices that she was serious and if he hadn’t stopped her, she would have stabbed him. There was a faint scent on the blade as well and it was familiar. He can’t quite place it, but he’ll file it away for future reference. Wolverine then tells Yukio that she is very good - stronger and faster that she lets on.
Yukio gets on top of Wolverine, whom she calls Logan, and indicates to him that she is a tigress and, if he thinks she is skilled in the art of war, wait until he sees her perform those of love. Wolverine responds that she is a woman after his own heart. The answer he gets is yes, among other things. Wolverine realizes that the chemistry is perfect but that he can’t, won’t respond. His eyes see Yukio’s face but his brain transforms the image into Mariko’s. He gets up and leaves Yukio there, informing her that he needs some sleep. Yukio responds that he wants her and he can’t deny it. They are kindred spirits, her and him. She asks him not to leave, practically begging. Wolverine continues to walk away, realizing that Yukio has pride, yet for him she chucks it. Even still, he walks away. As Yukio watches him leave, she thinks to herself that he will not do so again. Shingen’s daughter is not worthy of him. She will not have him, for he is hers!!!
In a skyscraper located in Tokyo’s upper-class Meguro district, Mariko Yashida and her husband are attempting to get into see Lord Shingen. Mariko’s husband is starting to get impatient for they have been waiting to see him for quite some time. Shingen’s receptionist indicates to him again that Shingen is indeed aware of their presence, however he is in conference and cannot be disturbed.
At that moment, a lady arrives in a long trench coat, and a hat. Upon arrival she tells the receptionist that she wants to see Shingen now. Mariko’s husband pipes up and offers to assist her, for he is Lord Shingen’s associate, Noburu-Hideki. And that charming woman over there is his wife, Mariko. The receptionist asks if this strange lady has an appointment. The stranger grabs the receptionist by the tie and informs him simply “no” and walks on past. As she walks past, Shingen’s receptionist calls him and informs him that he could not stop her, she was most insistent.
In Shingen’s darkened office, the lady enters and asks him why there are no lights on and that this is quite intimate. It’s a pity this isn’t a social call. Shingen responds that she did not summon her. He will not tolerate such intrusions. He then orders her to leave while she is still able. The lady, now revealed to be Yukio asks who’s going to throw her out, him? Shingen replies so be it. She has chosen her path, now she must walk it. From behind the sliding panel, Yukio hears one of the Hand approaching. She pulls out one of her knives just as the ninja goes to slash her. She is able to dodge his attack and connects with a punch to the back of the ninja’s head. She then gets on top of him, pinning him down. She has subdued him.
Shingen asks why she doesn’t kill him. Were their positions reversed, her soul would have long since departed to join the goddess Amaterasu in Heaven. Yukio agrees but now her attacker has to live with the memory that she beat him. Death for him would be a merciful release. She continues to address Shingen. She has served him faithfully, yet he sent the Hand to kill her tonight. That was supposed to be a deception - to win her Wolverine’s sympathy and his aid - but the Hand was playing for real! She then warns Shingen that she is a very dangerous lady, and he wouldn’t like her for an enemy.
Shingen grabs her arm and condones her for addressing him in such a manner!! She is lord of Clan Yashida and she is but a servant of his will, to be used as he sees fit. First, Wolverine would have known the difference between sham and reality. For their deception to be convincing, the threat had to be legitimate. Secondly, although she is his premier assassin, her next target is protected by bodyguards of such superlative skill that even the Hand has been unable to kill him. He had to be certain she was ready, and worthy of this task.
Yukio complains that Shingen is hurting her, but Shingen doesn’t care. He continues with his plan. He has arranged a “peace conference” with Katsuyori. His representatives will be Mariko and Noburu. Katsuyori believes that he will not place his daughter in jeopardy. He will think himself safe. Then and there, Yukio will strike. Yukio asks what will happen if something goes wrong. Shingen grabs Yukio by the throat and informs her that, if Mariko comes to the slightest harm, she will die. Once Katsuyori has been dealt with, she is informed to eliminate Wolverine as well. He will have served her purpose. Yukio replies that both men are... are... as good as dead.
Wolverine has been able to sleep around the clock and awakes as good as new. He realizes something has happened during the night, however. Yukio is edgy and shaken. Wolverine pries into what is wrong. Yukio informs him that she met with the crime lord and tried to settle things between them. It didn’t work and now there’s only one sure way to save her. That’s for the crime lord, Katsuyori to suffer a sudden and untimely demise. Wolverine suggest an alternative: he’ll make the creep and offer he can’t refuse. Convince him that staying on Yukio’s case will prove a whole lot more trouble than it’s worth. Yukio indicates that he’s tough and mean. He doesn’t scare easily. Wolverine will see about that. Good news is Yukio has a line on where he will be.
To get there, they swim in the reservoir towards the castle where he will be. Once they arrive, they find the place is filled with guards with guns. Wolverine takes them out with no problem at all. As they climb up the roof, Yukio tells him Wolverine that he should have slain them. Wolverine responds that there was no need to do so. They’re tucked away where no one will find them and they’ll be out of there long before they recover. Besides, they didn’t see them so they can’t identify who zapped them. Killing them serves no useful purpose. Yukio replies that they are enemies, they deserve no less. Wolverine thinks to himself that she is a bloodthirsty lady who reminds him of himself. Maybe that’s why he likes her.
Wolverine notices that Katsuyori is a cautious bird. As he soon discovers. This kabuki theatre, a remodeled castle in a park on the outskirts of Tokyo, is laced with ultra-sophisticated electronic and mechanical security systems, in addition to a small army of goons. He takes them all out in stride, one in particular by punching his claws through the beam above the guard and landing on him, killing him instantly. Even though he makes it look easier than it is, he doubts anyone but him could have penetrated the castle undetected.
The farther he goes, the warier he becomes. He continues to look for Katsuyori’s ace in the hole, the defense, the trap he figures no one will spot until it’s too late. He sees the audience for tonight’s performance consists of four people. He recognizes two of them. Down below Noburu and Mariko greet Katsuyori and his wife. Katsuyori indicates to Noburu that he hopes he will find this an appropriate setting for their discussions. They should be seated now; the play is about to begin.
Wolverine recognizes Mariko, he wonders what she is doing here!! Noburu asks Katsuyori if he wants to discuss business now. Katsuyori replies that it can wait until after the play. He is also amazed that Shingen - who professes to revere their ancient ways - would send an emissary so lacking in even elementary school graces. Wolverine recognizes that Noburu bridles under the pressure but masters his temper. He then wonders what he did for Shingen to prompt the old man to marry Mariko to him. Before he can ponder that thought any further, the play begins.
Wolverine knows the play - Chushingura, the 47 Ronin. It is a story of the retainers of a lord who avenged his death by slaying the man responsible for it, knowing that such an act would mean their own certain execution by ritual suicide. It’s a tale of honor, of loyalty, of the samurai determination to see a course through to its end. Regardless of the cost. It embodies all the qualities the Japanese revere most in their national character and heritage. The performance itself is superb. This is one of the finest kabuki troupes he has ever seen.
Just then, during the climactic lion dance, which is the high point of the show, the lead actor draws his katana. At that moment, the pieces fall into place. Katsuyori’s playing his ace against Mariko and her husband!!! Wolverine counters the attack. The actor is obviously a pro, a master of his craft. Without missing a beat, he shifts targets from Mariko to him. They pass in mid-air, stage lights flashing off sword and claws. The assassins cut draws Wolverine’s blood, but so does his!! The assassin lands, dead, on top of a frightened Mariko.
Wolverine lands on the stage and faces the rest of the stage company. They’re as ready to fight as their leader. Their leader took a gamble and paid the price. That will make his colleagues not as flamboyant. Wolverine wants to spare Mariko a glance, to see if she’s okay, but he doesn’t dare. Facing the troupe, Wolverine informs them that if they wish to have Mariko’s life, they will have to get past him to take it. The answer he gets is that they shall!! Wolverine responds that that is okay; it’s their funeral. With that, he rushes through the lot of them, gutting them as he goes.
In the pandemonium, Katsuyori slaps Noburu. He commends him for anticipating his ambush. His foresight will avail him naught for his retainers will deal with his assassin, and then with him. At that moment, as Katsuyori’s wife goes out the door, she informs her husband that their guards are all dead. They all have knives in their backs. Katsuyori grabs his wife arm and informs her to get into the car quickly!! Once they reach their estate they will be safe!! Once they are inside, a figure from behind the wall presses a detonator, exploding the car into a million pieces. That figure is Yukio and she is pleased, now that phase one of her job is complete.
Back in the theatre, Wolverine has been able to confine the scrap mainly on the stage. That works in his favor, as do the odds. The actors have to be careful they don’t chop one of their own by mistake, while he can hit anyone he pleases. He does recognize they are good, on par with the Hand, and trained to fight like a team. Wolverine is able to hold his own, slashing his way through the fighters. Eventually, his attackers skill catches up with him when one them connects with a perfect slice between his neck and shoulder. It’s a perfect cut. If it wasn’t for his adamantium bones, Wolverine would’ve been sliced in half. That was a bad mover for them; it drives him berserk. In a matter of minutes, the battle is over and Wolverine is the only one standing. His attackers - most of them dead!! Wolverine lost control, he feels sick, he feels great. He then sees Mariko.
Up until now, she has never seen him as a berserker. It’s a side of him he never wanted her to see. Now, she is shocked, dismayed, and disgusted by what she has just seen. She turns and leaves without a word. Without a backward glance. Wolverine lets her go and realizes whatever they had, whatever they might have had, is finished now. Wolverine is a broken man, dead inside. From behind the curtain, Yukio is pleased with herself for she has just completed phase two of her task!!