by Perri Smith
When she woke, it was to pain again. A big surprise. She was strapped to a chair in a large, cold room. The rough metal walls were unfinished, showing pipes and wiring behind the machines and computers which lined the sides. If she looked towards the steel door, she could see a trail of blood on the floor. She didn't want to think about that.
Instead, she managed to lift her head and look to the side. Wolverine was strapped to a table beside her, with heavier restraints. His uniform was soaked to the waist with blood and he was sweating, obviously in considerable pain.
"All comfy?" Nyct was bending over him, equally obviously enjoying the situation. "Hope you're not in too much pain -- well, no, actually, I hope you're in screaming agony, after what you did to me."
"Doesn't look like the damage was permanent," Wolverine growled.
Nyct rubbed her upper arm, hissing in remembered pain. "You took off half my arm, you bastard. Not to mention what your little songbird here did. Luckily we have. . . expert medical attention here."
"I bet," Wolverine answered through his teeth. Siryn must have made a sound, because he lifted his head enough to look towards her.
"Why the hell do these lunatics always want to remake 'Frankenstein,' props an' all?" he grimaced.
"Personally, I've always preferred the Mel Brooks version." Both of them tried to turn their heads, but the voice came to them this time.
A tall, muscular woman, face hidden in shadows. But light gleamed off a short cap of white-blond hair.
As usual, Siryn had no flamin' idea who she was.
Wolverine, however, seemed to recognize her. "Psylocke shoulda killed you when she had the chance."
"She certainly should have," the woman agreed. It was the same one who had been playing with the speakers earlier; the boss. She wore the same uniform the soldiers did. "It would have been much easier on me if she had. I wouldn't have had to watch you mutants destroy my home, my country, turn my lover against me." The calmness in her voice was buried now, replaced with deadly venom. "Yes, your psychic friend should have killed me on Genosha. But she didn't. What is it Delphi says . . . 'first mistake'?"
"Who the devil is this psychopath?" Siryn fought her restraints, looking at Wolverine for an answer.
The blonde woman watched her in evident amusement. "Ah, a typical young hero, outraged and ready to fight to the death. Give it up. You won't be getting away from me until I'm done with you."
"Go t'hell!"
"No, I believe Wolverine will be going first. But I can't have you dying in ignorance, either; that wouldn't be any fun. Wolverine, why don't you inform your playmate who I am -- and what you did to me?"
Wolverine plastered a grin on his face with what must have been sheer stubborness, apparently determined to give the woman as little satisfaction as possible. "Theresa, ya get t' meet Magistrate Tam, one o' the ever-lovin' protectors of Genosha, not t' mention Havok's girlfriend when he was still outta his mind. Me an' Psylocke took her out when everyone got together and busted Hodge, Moreau and El Presidente of the Republic of Genosha a while back."* He looked Tam over assessingly. "Psylocke musta scrambled your brains good t' make you think you could pull off a stunt this stupid."
"Not stupid, Wolverine." Tam shook her head. "No, I've thought this all out quite carefully - I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm taking my revenge. . . as slowly and painfully as possible." She made a tsking noise, looking down at Logan. "Such a nasty wound; I have told Rebound to play more nicely with his toys, but he never does listen. Between him and Deadpool, it's a wonder anyone ever lives through a day here."
"Can the jabberin'. . . 'less yer gonna say somethin' useful," Wolverine said through gritted teeth. He found running out of energy to be irritating, Siryn guessed; that scared her more than anything.
Tam nodded her head thoughtfully. "Ah, yes, this is where I'm supposed to reveal my dastardly plans, isn't it, and fall prey to the classic villain mistake of talking too much? Sorry to disappoint you, but you'll be the only one talking today." She leaned so close to Wolverine that Siryn had trouble hearing her. "All I want to know is the weaknesses of the Xavier Institute and X-Factor's headquarters."
"What're ya gonna do if we don't tell you? Kill me? Ya seem t' be a little late for that." Wolverine looked as if he took some satisfaction from throwing that in Tam's face.
But Tam didn't seem horribly moved. "Oh, don't worry, I believe we can keep you alive a while longer. The young 'lady', however," she motioned at Rebound, who pulled his knife, and laid it across Theresa's throat, "she's one of Cable's brats, and deserves special treatment. After the trouble her teammates caused me, I don't care if she lives or dies . . . do you?"
Siryn felt the cold steel against her neck just above the inhibitor collar, but she was far beyond the point of fear. Instead, she was ready to tear Rebound to pieces. "These aren't 'mutates', are they, Magistrate?" she spit out. "Must be killin' ye t'have t'hire the things you hate so much, these 'inferiors', to let you get yer revenge, since ye can't do it by yerself!"
Tam shrugged. "They would not be my first choice, but I have little say in the matter. They were given to me to carry out this particular job, and I was in no position to refuse."
"So someone else is yankin' yer chains, Tam, just like before," Wolverine snarled. "Is this one any better than Hodge? What're ya gonna get this time?"
"You have no idea," Tam told him, her eyes narrowing. "Let's just say revenge is only one of my priorities. And I'm getting tired of the witty banter. I don't really expect you to give in, but I would like to get on with this." Her eyes were almost slits now, her voice barely above a hiss. "I do so want to hear you tell me to kill the girl; I'd enjoy that."
Siryn opened her mouth to tell Tam what would be really entertaining, but before she could get anything out, alarms started going off all over the room. "What the . . . Nyct, go see what's happening!" Tam shouted
Nyct was already speaking rapidly into an intercom by the door. She turned back to Tam after only a minute's conversation. "There's been an explosion in the main hanger -- we lost the planes. And the squad we sent out earlier hasn't checked in. Neither have Deadpool and Delphi."
Tam looked like she'd just swallowed a raw egg. "Dammit, what could have gone wrong this time? Rebound, tend to our guests. If they cooperate, kill them quickly. If not, indulge yourself." She and Nyct disappeared through the door.
"Hard to get good help these days, isn't it?" Siryn jibed.
"Hard to find working bodies these days, eh?" Rebound answered. "Now, have you decided whether you want the easy way or the hard way? I hope you choose the hard way." He ran the knife slowly along her neck. She refused to let herself shiver and stared defiantly up at him instead. Deep inside, she sent up a silent prayer.