[The Massachusetts Academy of the Xavier Institute.]

{Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters, Massachusetts}

Banshee: Anything yet, Em?

White Queen: Quiet, Cassidy! If you're going to distract me I'd have rather had you search the grounds with the students. Now, Angelo, open your mind to me: Is there anything we missed?

Angelo: Uhh, chica, er, Miss Frost, after your last trip into my mind up in Canada, I'm not sure I want-

[The White Queen flashes a mischevious smile.]

White Queen: You don't trust me, Angelo?

Angelo: Well ... no.

Banshee: Come now, lad. This may be our best chance to find her. I'm here with ye'.

{Sean Cassidy casts a stern glance toward Emma Frost, the White Queen. Though their students in Generation X do not know this, the Banshee has been suspicious of The White Queen's motivations and methods for some time now. Recently, Emma attempted to trade the mute student Penance to the villianous Emplate for information regarding the whereabouts of their team in the wake of an attack by Banshee's cousin, Black Tom Cassidy. Sean believes Angelo Espinoza, the mutant known as Skin, is justified in his reservations about Emma Frost.}

Angelo: Oookay, Banshee. Go ahead Miss Frost.

{As the layers of Skin's recent memory unfold before the White Queen, they see the incident that concerns them.}

White Queen: Angelo ... you were playing ... chasing her ... she rounded a corner on her rollerblades ... a flash of light! ... that was the last you saw of her...

Angelo: Si ... just like I said.

Banshee: Sometimes Angelo, a telepath can unearth things buried in the subconscious. Things that might tend to be a clue.

Angelo: I like my subconscious just the way it is ... buried.

{Angelo Espinoza hurries off to join his fellow students on a search of the grounds.}

White Queen: Sean, honestly, do you think they'll ever trust me again?

Banshee: Honestly, Em? Do you think you've given them any reason to?

White Queen: What happened with Emplate in Miami-

Banshee: Has got nothin' to do with the here and now. Still can't pick up any telepathic trace of her?

White Queen: My range isn't as wide and precise as Xavier's. I've stretched it as far as it's going to go.

Banshee: Blast! Where are ye, lass? Where are ye, Jubilee?

[The compound of the ninja cult The Hand in Japan, outside of Osaka. Jubilee is in a sparse cell, manacles covering her hands.]

{Osaka, Japan}

Jubilee: Well, Jubilee, this in another fine mess you've gotten yourself in. Ha, ha. Some big joke. This kidnapping the lovely, way cool mutant thing is becoming a trend. Wolvie, if you're out there, I'm in deep do-do!

[Outside the cell, looking in.]

Monk: ... in deep do-do!

Tetsuo: Do-do?

Tsuraba: A western vulgarity, Tetsuo. The monk seems to be suited for the task.

Tetsuo: Yes, master! Far stronger than the telepath utilized in the last attempt at that cursed mutant.

Tsuraba: He will have to be. Logan rejected our implants once before, because of the treachery of the X-Man Psylocke. That one ... has been removed from the equation.

Tetsuo: Kwannon ...

Tsuraba: No, old friend ... the remaining ember of her flame lives in Elizabeth Braddock. When we strike this time, it will be through our own resources. This telepath has even been in Logan's mind before, he was ... on loan. We will destroy the X-Man Wolverine, rather, he shall destroy himself.

[The Princess Bar, Madripoor. Logan sits at the bar, with his arm around Tiger Tyger. O'Donnel and Rose chat it up with the patrons. Archie shares a drink with Zoe Culloden who is smiling but keeping her eye on Logan.]

{Madripoor}

Logan: There's a saying goes "If you're lookin' for trouble, look for a bar. If you're lookin for real trouble, look for a woman." The women in my life, more often than not, end up being just that. Exhibit A: Zoe Culloden. Expediter for Landau, Luckman and Lake, the firm that handles my business interests. When Rose Yu over there, and old man Chang were runnin' the show, I could trust 'em to look out for my best interests. The firm's new breed, her in particular, operate in what I'd call a gray area concernin' my interests.

Tiger Tyger: Did she tell what you want, Logan?

Logan: Never does, darlin'. When did she blow into town?

Tiger Tyger: A week ago. Supposedly to amass information regarding one of Rose's former clients.

Logan: Hmmph.

Tiger Tyger: Were you shocked to hear about Rose and the others being alive?

Logan: Yup. Some joker name of Genesis had a telepath working Madripoor. He managed to make me believe all my friends were killed. Telepathically manipulated Coy and Baran into the slaughter. Not that either one of them needed much of a reason for slaughter. Fact they were mind-messed is the only thing keepin' me from riddin' this world of their miserable presence.

Tiger Tyger: Did you find the telepath?

Logan: Not a trace. But workin' with folks like Charlie Xavier, you get recognize the hangover of a mind-screw.

[Zoe Culloden walks outside the bar while Logan is preoccupied in his conversation.]

{Zoe Culloden takes advantage of Logan's momentary distraction and slips outside the Princess Bar. She presses buttons on her transdimensional wristwatch and begins to dematerialize.}

[The Hand's compound.]

{Osaka, Japan. Zoe Culloden materializes in the Hand's headquarters, met by Matsuo Tsuraba, his aide Tetsuo and their telepath.}

Tsuraba: Culloden.

Zoe Culloden: Tsuraba.

Tsuraba: How goes the progress with the prime objective?

Zoe Culloden: He'll be ready. Have you secured the girl?

Tsuraba: We could not secure Amiko, the mutant's word, so we opted for the little X-Man.

Zoe Culloden: Jubilee?? Tsuraba, you fool! This brings us attention we can ill afford!

Tsuraba: This compound is psi-shielded so that even their precious Xavier could not breach the barriers.

Zoe Culloden: Xavier is no longer a concern. But Jean Grey, Psylocke and Emma Frost working in consort could eventually breach any defense you might have.

Tsuraba: Perhaps eventually. But by then we'll have fortified our defenses on a more physical basis.

Zoe Culloden: The bonding process you're planning...it is superior to the original...but how can you be sure he won't reject the psychic implants?

Tsuraba: We have our monk, here, our telepath, who has already invaded the mutant's mind without detection. He used only a fraction of his power. He has spent a chaste lifetime of concentrated training on the psychic plane. Even Jean Grey could not defeat him there, and if Xavier is as removed as you say, she will present little problem.

Zoe Culloden: Very well. But after the process takes hold, his services will be shared by the Hand and my firm.

Tsuraba: Yes, it will be your firm. This corporate power play is almost worthy of Japanese business.

Zoe Culloden: After this, Matsuo, "Japanese Business" will be an oxymoron.

Tsuraba: Very well, then let us begin.

[Outside the Princess Bar. Logan goes to a pay phone and begins plugging it with coins.]

Logan: Could have sworn I saw Culloden sneak out here a minute ago. I need answers and I'm tired of the ones she's givin' me. Maybe Jeannie can help me persuade her.

Operator: International operator, city and country, please?

Logan: Salem Center, United States.

Operator: One moment, please.

Logan: I'm tired of bein' one step behind the plans folks have for me. I need to stay ahead of the curve.

Jean Grey: Xavier Institute?

Logan: Jeannie, it's Logan. Got some free time?

Jean Grey: For you? Anytime.

Logan: I got a need for your talents in Madripoor, I-huh??

[A flash of light appears behind the pay phone. Logan dematerializes and the phone drops.]

Jean Grey: Logan? Logan??

[The Hand compound, Osaka, Japan.]

{The mutant known as Wolverine materializes in a large control room filled with hand ninjas.}

Logan: The Hand! And I know by the smell of it another snake is here! Tsuraba! Tired of me takin' a piece of you at a time! You want me to take the whole thing!

Tsuraba: That, I would not do were I you, mutant.

Logan: Why is that, dead man?

Tsuraba: Merely this ...

{A metallic door slides away to reveal a bound Jubilee with hand ninjas, training automatic rifles at her head.}

Logan: Jubilee!! I knew the chickens from my war with the Hand would come home to roost. Just didn't realize they'd bring someone I care so much about down with me. This is gonna get worse before it gets better.