Kapitel 26: I'll Be Back!
Wade made them run down the hallway, Ken, Bobby, Jubilee, and Pyro just run quietly as possible behind him. The tension thick enough to cut with a butter knife as Wade trying to open their way out from the soldier who keep coming by brutally murdered them.
Ken tried to help him by targeting the soldiers' ankles while Jubilee, Bobby, and Pyro defended the rear.
Normally, Wade would've been the one to crack the tension, even when they are fighting—throw out a joke, poke fun at something—but right now? He was laser-focused, his expression is really grim. Like he afraid if he crack a joke a boogeyman would came.
Ken also kinda scared seeing this side of him right now. After all these years he spend with Wade, his brother never been this serious.
"Okay," Wade said, breaking the quiet as they approached the next junction. "We almost there, hopefully we won't meet—ah, fucks."
And there he was. The boogeyman had came.
Ken always remembered that face, even if he actually just a toddler back then.
William Stryker, standing in the dimly lit hallway with his classic I'm-an-evil-mastermind posture. He was flanked by his loyal gang of soldiers—armed to the teeth, ready to shoot on sight—and wearing that cold, calculating smirk that made Wade's blood boil. Stryker's gaze locked onto Wade for a brief moment. Fucks.
"Weapon IX, X-20," Stryker's voice was calm, he glanced at his brother and him. "You've grown."
Wade smirked, because of course he did. He was still Ken's brother after all. At least the witty one is back. "Yeah, puberty and a lot of milk will do that. You haven't change tho, beside the crinkles. Still dead inside?"
Behind him, Bobby and Jubilee exchanged uneasy glances, while Pyro's fingers twitched like he was itching to start a bonfire. Ken just clenched his fists, claws out, ready to throw himself into the action without a second thought. He'll throw hand to save his brother, he is bigger and more trained now.
Stryker didn't even blink. "You're still the same," he said, voice dripping with contempt. "Always talking with that mouth of yours. Always defiant. You know, without your need to be always talk, you could be the perfect soldier."
"Defiance and talking is kinda my thing," Wade quipped, stepping forward. "Speaking of things, what's yours? Oh, right—kidnapping, torture, overall creepy vibes. The usual menu?"
Stryker's lips twitched, just enough to show how unfazed he was by Wade's usual snark. "Don't you understand what happening right now?"
Wade's smirk faded, his usual light-hearted demeanor giving way to something darker, colder. His eyes locked onto Stryker's, a sudden, dangerous calm taking over. It was really frightening. Ken never seen this side of his brother.
"You're right," Wade said softly, his voice like a knife's edge. "I don't understand why you're still breathing."
Without another word, Wade lunged. His claws extended with a sharp snikt, slicing through the air toward Stryker's neck. Wade didn't even care to talk anymore—like he just wanted to end this. Right here, right now.
But Wade didn't get far.
The Asian woman near Stryker moved like lightning, her claws blocking Wade's attack before it could land. Metal clanged against metal, sparks flying as Wade staggered back, caught off guard for only a split second before teleporting behind her. He reappeared a foot away, aiming for Stryker again, but she was already there, her claws slashing toward him in a deadly arc.
"Really?" Wade grunted as he twisted away from her next strike. "You bring the discounted gender-bender Sabertooth?"
But it wasn't just her. A group of soldiers sprang into action, guns raised. Wade barely had time to teleport out of the way as bullets whizzed past him.
"Shit! Motherfucker! Uhh! Right up the main street!"
They did hit him but Wade—who already healing anyway—teleported next to one soldier, grabbed his rifle, flipped it around, and fired a quick burst into his head and the other soldiers heads.
"Hey, thanks for the assist!" Wade quipped, tossing the gun back at the now-dead soldier. "Next time, aim better! My beautiful ass man! Be thankful that its thick!"
Behind him, Bobby sent out a blast of ice that froze one of the approaching soldiers' feet to the ground. Jubilee fired off a series of energy blasts that temporarily blinded a few others, while Pyro, grinning like a maniac, lit up the hallway with a wall of flame that cut off any reinforcements from coming in. Ken also slashing and stabbing the soldier that came near him and his friends.
"Come at me," Pyro called out, clearly enjoying himself a little too much.
Wade rolled his eyes at Pyro's antics while still trying to fend of the Gender-bender Sabertooth.
Ken, however, see an opening on her.
He let out a yell and charged the woman. "Get away from my brother!"
"No, wait, Ken—!" Wade shouted, but it was too late.
The woman barely acknowledged Ken before swatting him away with a backhand swipe, sending him crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. He hit the ground, gasping for air, dazed but alive.
Well, he still got those healing factor from his father after all.
Not that's matter anyway, since when Wade seems to only saw red after that.
His usual sarcasm dropped, replaced by pure, unfiltered rage. His fists clenched so hard that his finger dug into his own palms, blood dripping onto the floor. His entire body trembled with the need to rip Stryker apart.
"You…" Wade's voice was a low growl, barely more than a whisper. "You're not walking out of here alive."
Wade teleported again, this time more aggressively, reappearing right in front of the Asian woman, slashing at her with everything he had. His claws were a blur, his strikes fueled by pure anger. But she was fast—too fast. Every hit he threw, she countered, her expression never changing as she danced around him like a predator toying with its prey.
"Nobody hit my brother but me!"
Behind him, Bobby and Jubilee were preparing to jump into the fray. Pyro's hands twitching his lighter as he looked ready to turn the entire hallway into an inferno.
But Wade wasn't having it.
"Run!" Wade yelled, slashing at Psycho Lady with a fury as he glanced back at his friends. "Get Ken out of here! You guys aren't ready for this fight yet!"
"But—" Jubilee started, her eyes darting between Wade and the soldiers.
Wade didn't let her finish. He grabbed Ken by the arm, forcing him to his feet, shoving something into his hand—a key, gleaming faintly in the dim light. "You know where to go," Wade muttered with a knowing look. "Take them, now."
Ken blinked, still winded, but nodded. Jubilee quickly took hold of him, her grip tight as she pulled him back.
"But we can help!" Bobby protested, glancing nervously at the oncoming soldiers.
"No, you can run! Save yourself! This one is above your skill rate!" Wade snapped, deflecting another one of the woman strikes.
"Now go!"
Jubilee, understanding, hauled Ken down the hallway, her arm around his shoulders as she hurried him away. Bobby and Pyro reluctantly turned, moving to the rear, shooting blasts of ice and flame to cover the retreat as they followed, holding off the soldiers who dared to follow.
The sounds of fighting filled the hallway—guns firing, flames roaring, ice cracking—but through it all, Wade kept his focus on Stryker. The man hadn't moved an inch, just stood there, watching with that calm, smug expression that made Wade want to punch him into next week.
Wade teleported once more, right at Stryker, claws raised—
But the Asian Woman was already there again, slashing across his chest before he could land a blow. Wade staggered back, gasping, blood dripping from the fresh wound, but he wasn't done.
Not yet. Not by a long shot.
"Oh, now you're really not leaving this place alive," Wade repeated, his voice trembling with anger as he glared at the woman, already preparing for the next round.
Ken stumbled as Jubilee tugged him down the corridor, her grip tight around his wrist. His legs felt like they weren't moving fast enough, his body weighed down by the heavy key Wade had pressed into his palm. He didn't need to look at it to know what it was for. He just hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Behind them, the sounds of chaos—shouts, gunfire, and the unmistakable clash of claws—echoed through the mansion halls, growing more distant with every step. Ken's heart hammered in his chest, and he struggled to catch his breath, but Jubilee wasn't slowing down.
"C'mon, Ken, we gotta move faster!" she urged, her voice tight with urgency, glancing back toward the battlefield they'd just escaped.
Ken wanted to yell back that he was trying, that his legs weren't as long as hers, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he tightened his grip on the key Wade had given him and forced himself to keep pace, even as his mind raced with everything that had just happened.
Why didn't Wade let me fight? He knew what I am capable off…
The thought gnawed at him. He'd been training for this at least, hadn't he? He wasn't just some little kid anymore. He'd been sparring with the others, learning from his parents, and Wade—Wade was always pushing him to be better. And yet, when it came down to it, Wade had still told him to run. He hadn't even given him a chance to prove himself. Wade already rescuing his ass and his sister from Stryker when he was near his age right now. He felt really useless.
And now Wade was back there, facing off against Stryker and his psycho sidekick, while Ken was... running away. Useless.
Pyro and Bobby were still with them, covering their rear. Every so often, Ken would hear the whoosh of Pyro's fire flaring to life, or the crack of Bobby freezing a soldier in place. They were fighting, at least. Doing something. Meanwhile, Ken felt useless, the weight of the key in his hand reminding him that his role in all of this was… running.
Jubilee must've felt his frustration because, after another few twists and turns down the mansion's labyrinth of hallways, she finally slowed down and shot him a sympathetic look.
"I know you're mad," she said, a little out of breath herself, "Me too, but Wade's right. We're not ready for this. He was the only one that allowed to go on the X-Men mission after all. Even with all of his antics, he always knew what to do,"
He also let me and Laura go to those mission before anyway, why the changes? Is it because it was Stryker?
Ken clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. "No, He just thinks I'm weak."
Jubilee stopped suddenly, forcing Ken to stop too. She crouched down, her hand still gripping his wrist, her face softening. "No, he doesn't. Wade's just—he's trying to protect you. That's what big brothers do, okay? It's not about strength. It's about…" She trailed off, searching for the right words.
"It's about keeping you safe."
Ken looked away, his gaze falling to the floor as his fists tightened at his sides. It still didn't feel right. But he couldn't argue with her logic. Wade had practically jumped into the line of fire to make sure they could get away. To make sure he could get away. And deep down, Ken knew Jubilee was right. Wade wasn't thinking about strength or weakness; he was thinking about family. About him.
But it didn't stop him to resent his brother a little bit.
A sudden crash behind them made everyone jump. Pyro whipped around, flames already curling from his fingertips, but it wasn't a soldier. Just a door that had been blown open by stray gunfire.
"We gotta keep moving," Bobby urged, his voice tight with tension as he stood on high alert, watching their backs.
Ken glanced back at Bobby and Pyro, watching as they alternated between creating barriers of fire and ice to slow down any soldiers that got too close. They were both trying to act cool and collected, but Ken could see it—the fear in their eyes. The uncertainty.
They weren't ready for this either. Wade was right. Dammit.
They rounded a corner, and Ken finally let out a breath. His dad, standing like an angry bear waiting for them. His jacket was gone, his tank top ripped with blood all over, and his claws still out. The expression on his face said everything.
Logan didn't waste time.
"Where's Wade?" His voice was low, but there was a hint of urgency.
Ken could feel his stomach drop. His brother was back there, still fighting with the psycho asian bitch. Wade was the only one who could have handled Stryker's soldiers, but the thought of Wade going up against someone like her... Ken had a bad feeling about it.
Pyro, always the least diplomatic of the group, blurted out, "Wade stayed behind to fight some psycho chick with claws."
Logan's eyes narrowed, and he muttered something under his breath. Probably some choice curse words.
"We've got to get to the basement," Logan growled, already turning to lead the way. "Wade could handle her and the soldier. We need to—"
"No, we can't," Bobby cut him off, his voice strained. "Wade... Wade put the mansion in lockdown. Not any lockdown. Full lockdown."
Logan turned sharply, staring at Bobby like he'd just said something blasphemous. "He what?"
Ken, his voice shaky, finally spoke up, "Wade knew they were coming for us. He locked down the basement with his power. No one's getting in or out unless..."
He trailed off, and Jubilee jumped in, "Unless they knew the secret back tunnels or have the same power as Wade. I'm guessing by how they came with so many choppers, they didn't know about the tunnels."
Logan let out a low growl, his claws retracting as he rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Damn it, kid."
"We need to leave," Pyro said, pointing towards the mansion's now-shattered garage. "If we're not getting into the basement, but I've got an idea."
Ken eyes lit up as he glanced over the row of Cyclops's meticulously polished cars, and Ken could tell where this was going. The keys in his hand definitely had something to do with it. Wade always do this everytime.
Logan raised an eyebrow as Pyro walked over to one of the sleeker, more sporty-looking cars—a glossy, blue sport Mazda RX8 that practically screamed, I'm cooler than you. Pyro ran a hand along the hood like it was a prize he'd won.
"I call dibs on driving this baby," Pyro announced, already grinning like a kid who'd found the keys to his dad's car.
Logan stared at him like he'd just grown a second head. "Yeah, no. That's not happening."
Pyro's face fell. "Come on, man! We're literally in a life-and-death situation! I should get to drive something sick for once."
"Not a chance," Logan growled, clearly not in the mood for Pyro's shenanigans. "Maybe later. Right now, we're taking it, and I'm driving."
Pyro pouted but didn't argue. At least, not too much as he still hurried to the side door of the car.
Ken gave his dad the keys that Wade give him before. Thankfully, his guts was right and it was the keys for the cars. They hurriedly getting in the car before taking off in one of the secret tunnels.
The sound of the engine filled the tense silence in the car as they leave the garage.
Logan kept his eyes fixed ahead, his face a stone mask of concentration. Ken shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat, his fingers twitching as he thought about everything that had just happened. From the back seat, Jubilee stared out the window, clearly lost in her own thoughts, while Bobby and Pyro exchanged glances.
Finally, Jubilee couldn't take the silence anymore. "So... where are we going, Wolvie?"
Logan grunted, still not taking his eyes off the highway. "Jean and Storm are in Boston. Rogue and Beast knew them were there. So, probably Boston."
"My parents live in Boston." That had come from Bobby, and he didn't sound the least bit happy about it.
At the moment, His father didn't seem to really care about that. "Good," He said, absent-mindedly.
They fell into silent again. Until Pyro pushed his torso to the front of the car and reached for the centre controls. Ken saw his father's lip curl up in impatience. Yeah, good job Pyro. Now we got an annoyed Wolverine with us.
"What the hell is your problem now?" Logan snarled at Pyro, clearly annoyed by his sudden act.
"I don't do uncomfortable silences," Pyro declared, pushing a button.
The speakers roared to life, and while the sound system was superb, the music was anything but.
"It ain't no lie, baby, bye, bye, bye!"
Ken cringed, this was the song that his brother loves so much. Damn it! That son of a bitch isn't died yet but he already miss him this much. Ken hated it.
He then saw Logan and Pyro do the same out of the corner of his eye. Jubilee seems to enjoying it tho, figures, she and his brother practically had the same taste. Pyro then pushed another button and the song stopped, only to be replaced by another.
"Hit me, baby, one more time!"
"Are you sure this is Cyclops' car?" Jubilee asked with a laugh.
"Positive," Logan said with a scowl. He knew for a fact that it was Scott's car because any other car would have controls simple enough for even Pyro to understand. But, being that Scott was such a gear head, the car had been customized so that only he could work it without difficulty. The controls weren't even marked.
"I'll bet the operator's manual is the size of a Manhattan phone book."
Ken already annoyed enough that he had to leave his brother alone to fend off the soldiers and the buttons Pyro was hitting were only increasing the volume and Ken's own headache. If the next button Pyro pressed didn't yield better results, he'd end it with a swipe of his claws.
Primitive? Maybe. But also very effective. If its fail, he could try it on Pyro instead. See if it shut him up. Morals be damned.
Jubilee slapped Pyro's hand away and pressed yet another button, and this time the music cut out completely and the radio disappeared. A tray popped into view, revealing an oval shaped disk about as small was a computer mouse.
"I don't think that's the CD player," Pyro commented, snatching it off the tray and examining it closely. Logan watched him push the sides and the object extended slightly, beeping at him.
"Sweet."
Logan snatched it from the teen and gently elbowed him to the back seat, where he belonged. He examined the odd device and hoped he was right in guessing that it was some sort of cell phone.
He'll figured out how to use that later, he always does.
"So, uh… those guys back at the mansion," Bobby started, voice uncertain. "The ones Wade and Ken seemed to know… who were they? I mean, it was pretty clear that wasn't just some random attack from the brotherhood."
Ken's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking to Bobby before he muttered, "Stryker."
Logan's hands tightened on the wheel, the car slowing just slightly as if the name alone was enough to hit the brakes. His knuckles whitened, and he shot a glance at Ken out of the corner of his eye. "Is it really him? You sure?" he asked, his voice low, almost growling.
Ken clenched his fists, his voice steady but filled with barely suppressed anger. "I know who tormented me since birth, Dad. I might be a toddler at that time, but that face? Those memories? They didn't just disappear. We didn't get the same mental treat as you and mom. I am sure. It's him."
Logan was silent for a beat, his jaw working as if he was grinding his teeth. His gaze flicked back to the road, but the grip on the steering wheel didn't relax. The air in the car felt even heavier now, like they were all waiting for something to snap.
Bobby cleared his throat awkwardly, clearly sensing the rising tension. "Uh, look, my house isn't too far from Boston. Maybe we should go there first before trying anything else. Everyone's exhausted, and we need to regroup."
Logan's eyes darted back to Ken for a moment, and for the briefest second, something unreadable passed across his face. The part of him that wanted to turn the car around and charge back into the mansion was fighting with Wade but a part of him that knew these kids weren't ready for that. Not yet.
He cursed under his breath, glancing back at the others in the rearview mirror—Jubilee looking worn out, Bobby trying to keep it together, and Pyro… well, Pyro was just Pyro.
Logan sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging a bit. "Fine," he muttered. "Boston first. But we're not staying long."
Ken exhaled quietly, his tension easing just a fraction. Logan hit the gas again, speeding toward Boston, but Ken could see the war brewing behind his father's eyes. They weren't out of this yet—not by a long shot. He just hoped his brother is okay. He has a score to settle with him after this after all.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Vha_Ann
Vha_Ann This is Ken first POV debut! I did say this will have multiple POV and multiple MC, we get back to Wade POV after this and I'll also gonna update the timeline after this so it'll be not so confusing afterward. Todeluuuu!
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein